Russia Summons US Diplomats, Protests Against Links Of CNN Journalists And Washington Posts Deemed Provocative

Ukrainian Military In Kursk Russia/PHOTO Via Instagram @ukraine_defence

JAKARTA - Russia summoned senior US diplomats to protest the "provocative actions" of American journalists covering the Kursk area in Russia.

The Foreign Ministry said it had notified US Business Authority Stephanie Holmes the journalists had illegally crossed into the region, where Ukrainian troops carried out the attack two weeks ago. It said Russia intended to try them.

Reported by Reuters on Tuesday, August 20, Moscow appears to be referring to a report by the Washington Post and CNN from Sudzha, the Russian border town currently under the control of Kyiv.

In a CNN broadcast, journalists traveled by Ukrainian military convoy from Ukraine to Sudzha, where they stopped in an almost deserted city with several dozen elderly citizens remaining.

For the Washington Post, a reporter, a videographer and a photographer traveled to Sudzha on Saturday escorted by Ukrainian troops, and interviewed dozens of Russian civilians and Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was protesting against the actions of American journalists who "illegally entered the Kursk region for coverage of the Kyiv regime's crime propaganda".

The statement did not mention the names of journalists or their media.

The actions of journalists are considered by Russia to clearly prove the involvement of the United States as a direct participant in the conflict.

When contacted by Reuters, a Washington Post spokesman said, "we are proud of our report on the Ukraine-Russia war and remain committed to covering all aspects of this important growing conflict."

CNN and the US embassy in Moscow did not immediately reply to a response request.

In a similar case, Russia on Friday summoned Italy's ambassador to protest what it called illegal border crossings' by a correspondent team from the Italian state broadcaster RAI, who reported from Sudzha under Ukrainian military escort. The two journalists then returned to Italy.