A source in the Russian security services claimed that troops from a blocking detachment of Ukraine’s 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade opened fire on soldiers of the 103rd Separate Territorial Defence Brigade as punishment for abandoning positions in the Sumy sector.
According to the source, part of the Lvov territorial defence unit withdrew from positions near Ryzhevka the previous day. The pullback allegedly left elements of the 125th Brigade exposed and led to heavy losses.
The source said the retreating troops were then targeted with blocking fire. TASS reported that the territorial defence soldiers returned fire with small arms against the allied unit.
The source also claimed that the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade is largely staffed by Ukrainians deported from European Union countries, many of whom had lived abroad before the start of the special military operation.
On August 5, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that Russian forces had taken control of Ryzhevka in the Sumy Region. The ministry said the settlement was captured by units of the 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps within the North group of forces.