2023-06-06 19:56:00
She had summoned the diplomat, Marc Michielsen, earlier in the day to protest against the alleged use of Belgian weapons by Russians fighting alongside Ukraine during several recent deadly incursions into Russian territory.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ambassador was served “a strong protest following the revelations concerning the use of weapons manufactured in Belgium by subversive groups which carried out terrorist attacks in the Belgorod region “.
“Russia had repeatedly warned of the danger of the Ukrainian armed forces being supplied with Western weapons and equipment and of these spreading out of control,” he added.
Moscow called on Belgium “not to turn a blind eye to the growing evidence of the support given” by Kiev to these armed groups which “attack civilians and civilian infrastructure in Russia”.
These incursions, claimed by armed groups claiming to be Russian and fighting alongside the Ukrainian army, gave rise to violent clashes in the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine.
They were accompanied by massive bombardments on Russian towns and villages, which left several civilians dead and dozens injured. Moscow had used aviation and artillery to repel these armed groups from Ukraine.
According to the Belgian authorities, Marc Michielsen replied to Russian officials that Belgian weapons “were exclusively reserved for the defense of Ukrainian territory against Russian invasion” and that “all the documents accompanying each delivery attest to this”.
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that Belgium “requires guarantees so that these weapons are used in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
The Belgian government said on Monday it would seek “clarification” from kyiv over reports of the use of Belgian-made weapons during the incursions into Russia. “Last week, our embassy in Ukraine received instructions to remind the Ukrainian authorities of our principles on arms supplies and to inform them of our concern,” confirmed the Belgian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
The government of the flat country has invited “the intelligence services and the Ministry of Defense to analyze” the situation, informs the same ministry which adds that an “investigation is underway” to find out if Belgian-made weapons have indeed and indeed been employed on Russian soil.
Belgium, like other European countries and the United States, has provided arms to Ukraine on the condition that these will not be used to strike Russian territory for fear of an escalation in the conflict.
Ukraine denies piloting these attacks in Russia.
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