The Ukrainian military has started fighting on Russian soil, which is a new development in what has largely been a defensive struggle for the country.

Due to Ukrainian shelling in the area, Russian officials were forced to place two villages under emergency measures and evacuate some residents, according to multiple Russian media reports.

According to RIA Novosti, a Russian government-controlled news source, an explosion in the village of Zhuravlyovka injured four people. According to the outlet, the explosion was sparked by an attack that began in Ukraine.

As a result of an explosion at an ammunition stockpile, Zhuravlyovka and the surrounding town of Niekhoteyevka were placed under emergency orders, and approximately 180 people were evacuated to Belgorod, according to Interfax, another Kremlin-friendly outlet.

According to Interfax, Ukraine was not to blame for the explosion, but authorities believe it was not an accident.

Though claims of the strike, an apparent defeat for Russia, and Ukraine’s involvement came from Russian state-run channels, Fox News was unable to independently verify the purported attack.

The allegations come as the Russian military begins to redeploy some of its units encircling Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, though Pentagon spokesman John Kirby underlined Tuesday that the measures were more of a repositioning than a retreat.

Kirby claimed that the Russian military had failed to conquer Kyiv and most of Ukraine’s population centres, despite the fact that this had been a Russian military goal since the invasion began.

The alleged Ukrainian assaults on Russian soil occur against the backdrop of ongoing peace talks in Turkey, with Russia pledging to reduce attacks while Ukraine seeks a peace settlement that includes military neutrality in exchange for full EU membership.

Some experts, though, are sceptical of the peace negotiations. Author and former DIA intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Russia is unlikely to agree to Ukraine’s demands.