Belgium to investigate pro-Ukrainian militia using its weapons inside Russia, PM says – POLITICO

BRUSSELS – Belgium is opening an investigation into whether weapons it sent to Ukraine were used by pro-Ukrainian Russian paramilitaries to launch attacks in the Russian region of Belgorod, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Monday.

“We asked our intelligence and military services to analyze this,” De Croo told public broadcaster RTBF, after a Washington Post investigation published over the weekend showed that members of Russian volunteer groups supporters carried Belgian-made SCAR assault rifles during an assault on Russian cities.

“We ask the Ukrainians to clarify the situation,” De Croo said, adding that he was unable to confirm the information.

“But the rule is clear: our weapons that are supplied to Ukraine are naturally [intended] for defensive purposes of Ukrainian territory,” De Croo added.

In January, Belgium approved its largest military aid package to Ukraine to date, worth 90 million euros. The package included SCAR assault rifles, made by the state-owned Belgian arms company FN Herstal, which is owned by the Walloon region.

The Washington Post investigation released identified footage Saturday showing Free Russian Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps fighters using Western-made weapons and vehicles in raids on Russian villages.

The two paramilitary groups have made several incursions in recent weeks into the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, engaging in combat with Russian troops.

Russia claims that kyiv is behind these attacks, which the Ukrainian authorities have denied.