Russian forces seem to have taken possession of at least two of the vehicles, the newspaper reported. It is not certain how they ended up in Russia’s possession.
Pro-Ukraine fighters appear to have used at least three US armored vehicles in their attack on Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday, reports The New York Times.
The newspaper bases its information on pictures and videos uploaded to social media, the authenticity of which it has confirmed.
Russian forces appear to have taken possession of at least two of the vehicles, The New York Times reports.
According to the newspaper, it is unclear how the pro-Ukrainian forces, consisting mainly of Russian volunteer fighters opposed to the Russian regime, were able to use the American MRAP, i.e. Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
It is also unclear how the vehicles ended up in the possession of the Russian armed forces. On Monday evening, pro-Russian Telegram groups started sharing pictures of vehicles hijacked by Russian forces.
Ukraine resigned from the attack
According to The New York Times, the United States has delivered several hundred MRAPs to Ukraine. They have been seen in videos shot across Ukraine.
A spokesperson for the US State Department Matthew Miller told the newspaper that the authorities are investigating whether the information spreading on social media about the use of vehicles in the attack is true.
Miller emphasized that the United States does not encourage attacks on Russian soil.
The use of US military equipment on Russian soil may strain the relationship between the US and Ukraine, The New York Times estimates.
The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars worth of military aid to Ukraine on the condition that it not be used for attacks against Russia inside its borders.
The Freedom to Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Forces, or RDK, which are made up of Russian citizens, claimed to be the perpetrators of Monday’s attack. Russia has claimed that the attackers were Ukrainians. Ukraine has said it had nothing to do with the attack.
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