Russian forces are sabotaging hydraulic structures in Belgorod, likely to stage provocations and blame Ukraine, Kharkiv's Vitaliy Sarantsev said on Sept. 19.
Sarantsev said the Russians are not only building defenses around Belgorod but also sabotaging dams.
He suggested this could be a setup for future provocations, where Russian forces might blow up dams to slow Ukraine's advance and blame Ukraine for the resulting environmental and humanitarian damage.
He warned that such actions could mobilize the population and distract from internal issues, causing severe flooding and ecological disaster.
On Aug. 28, Sarantsev reported that Russian troops were relocating reserves to Belgorod for possible future assaults.