Russia Opens Criminal Case Into Ukraine Army Shelling of Border Checkpoint

MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia has launched a criminal case into an artillery attack by Ukrainian forces on a Russian customs border control post, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Friday.

“As a result of proven illegal actions on the territory of the Novoshakhtinsk [border control terminal], the asphalt near a mechanical pit for vehicle chassis inspections was damaged leaving an oval-shaped hole. Moreover, several oddly-shaped piercing and blind holes were discovered in the buildings and constructions of the customs post, and shrapnel was scattered from 30 to 200 meters. This proves that those shooting had the intention to kill Russian citizens located at this given post,” Markov said.

On Thursday, Ukrainian forces fired artillery shells at a bus and the Novoshakhtinsk border crossing near Russia’s southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Two buildings were damaged in the attack. None of the employees were injured, according to the Federal Security Service.

Several Russian border checkpoints have been closed recently due to bombardment from Ukrainian territory. The Gukovo, Donetsk and Novoshakhtinsk checkpoints have been shut, as people were reported wounded in the fighting between Ukrainian National Guard forces and independence supporters near border checkpoints.

These border control posts have been the major gates for refugees fleeing Ukraine and seeking asylum in Russia.

Poroshenko announced Tuesday the end to the ceasefire between pro-Kiev forces and independence supporters in the country’s east. Just a few hours after Poroshenko lifted the ceasefire the Ukrainian Army resumed fighting on the Russian-Ukrainian border in Luhansk Region.

Leave a comment