Ukraine invasion: Russia claims to fight 'saboteur' group in Bryansk region after 'six civilians held hostage'

Russian forces claim they are fighting a Ukrainian sabotage group in Bryansk region which borders Ukraine after the group took hostages in a shop, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday.

"A group of Ukrainian saboteurs infiltrated two villages, taking local residents hostage in one of them. Soldiers from Rosgvardia clashed with the militants," TASS quoted an unnamed source in Russia's security services as saying.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the reports.

Quoting local emergency services, the RIA news agency said several people had been taken hostage in a store in the village of Lubechanye, less than one kilometre from Russia's border with Ukraine.

Earlier, a Russian regional official said that a Ukrainian "sabotage group" had shot and killed one person after crossing into Russia from Ukraine.

"Today, a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group penetrated the Klimovsky district in the village of Lubechanye. Saboteurs fired on a moving car. As a result of the attack, one resident was killed and a ten-year-old child was wounded," Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz wrote on his Telegram channel.

He said Ukrainian armed forces had also launched a drone attack and fired artillery shells at other areas near the border.