Russian freedom fighters are apparently attacking Putin’s army

The anti-Putin group Legion of Freedom for Russia has reportedly launched a mission to create a security strip to protect Ukraine.

Russian soldiers secure the border with Ukraine near Belgorod. Anton Vergun/Sputnik/dpa

According to media reports, Russian fighters attacked Russian troops in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence spokesman Andrei Yuzov told Suspilne newspaper that the “Legion Freedom for Russia” and the “Russian Volunteer Corps” have launched a “mission to create a security zone to protect Ukrainian civilians.”

The first attacks by the anti-Putin fighters are said to have occurred in the Russian border region of Belgorod. Specifically, they are said to have attacked the border post in the village of Graivoron near the Ukrainian border. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov spoke on Telegram on Monday about an “attack by saboteurs”. A total of three towns were the target of attacks by a “sabotage group”. Six of the injured should have been taken to the hospital.

Governor issues terror alert in Belgorod

Gladkov said Russian air defenses were activated and a piece of rocket fragments fell into the garden of a house in the village of Antonovka. In addition, the village of Kozinka was attacked with mortar shells. A hay store caught fire in the village of Gora-Podol, and shells hit the premises of a car transport company in Graivoron.

In the region, the authorities issued a terror alert. As Gladkow announced on Telegram, this is for the safety of the population. The anti-terrorist regime provides for checks on people or the closure of factories that produce dangerous goods such as explosives, radioactive or chemical and biological hazardous substances.

Anti-Putin fighters appeal to Russian population

The “Legion Freedom for Russia” published an appeal to the residents of the Russian areas near the border: “Stay at home, do not resist and do not be afraid, we are not your enemies. In contrast to Putin’s zombies, we do not harm civilians and do not use them for our purposes,” Pravda quoted the task force as saying. The militants also released a video showing in the background street signs near the settlements of Lyubimovka (Bryansk region), Bezlyudovka (Belgorod region) and Churovitchy (Bryansk region).

The Kremlin responded with a statement. According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin had been informed of an “attempted breakthrough” in the Belgorod region by “Ukrainian saboteurs”. According to the Kremlin, Kiev is trying to distract from the defeat in Bakhmut.

Combat units should now also be in possession of military vehicles

Two months ago, Russian resistance fighters attacked Russian border villages. Units had entered the western Russian region of Bryansk and hoisted their flag at a border post. This time, however, not only infantry units should be involved in the attack. The Russian-language Twitter account wartranslated, which publishes daily war reports, wrote: “The attack is much larger, a larger number of combat vehicles are deployed and the artillery and mortar support is much stronger. Also, it takes place in broad daylight and drone footage is immediately published online for maximum psychological impact.”

As the Bild newspaper also reports, the former Russian FSB officer Igor Girkin explained on Telegram that the anti-Putin troops “with the support of tanks and artillery” from the Ukrainian army had crossed the border. “They managed to penetrate several hundred meters into the territory of the ‘old’ Russian Federation.” There were several deaths on both sides.

Further speculation about counter-offensive

Russia launched a war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24 last year and is repeatedly shelling Ukrainian cities and towns. In recent months, however, Russian regions have also complained about increasing shelling from the Ukrainian side. Military experts have long been expecting a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Since the direction of such a counter-offensive is still unknown, experts are speculating about advances into Russian territory in order to tie up forces there.

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