On Monday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it had killed four alleged “saboteurs” attempting to cross the border from Ukraine into Russia’s Bryansk region. The FSB stated that, on October 27, its border agents, alongside units from the Russian armed forces and National Guard, intercepted the individuals in the Klimovsky district. According to the FSB, the group was armed with foreign-made weapons and explosives, and personal items found at the scene reportedly suggest that the fighters were not Ukrainian nationals.
Footage released by Russian state media showed a Canadian flag and a Polish-language prayer book near one of the bodies, suggesting international connections. Additionally, authorities noted a tattoo of angel wings on the arm of one of the deceased, which they claimed signified an affiliation with the United States Army Rangers. It was also reported that among those killed was a South Asian Canadian, believed to be of Punjabi descent, though the FSB’s claims and the identity of the individuals have not been independently verified.
Russia’s Bryansk region has been on heightened alert following recent incursions, including a significant incident in August in the nearby Kursk region. The FSB has made similar allegations in the past, including claims from August 2023 that Ukrainian fighters attempting to cross into Bryansk were equipped with foreign weaponry, indicating a perceived increase in international elements within these incidents.