What is the “Liberty Legion of Russia”?

Russia is facing a new Ukrainian incursion. This Wednesday, several thousand people had to be evacuated from the Russian region of Kursk, which borders Ukraine and has been subject to an armed incursion since Tuesday. At least five people have been killed and dozens injured in clashes.

Since February 2022 and the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been facing occasional incursions into its territory. They are often claimed by the “Russian Freedom Legion”. But what is it? What are its actions? 20 minutes takes stock for you.

What is the “Liberty Legion of Russia”?

Banned in the country, the “Russian Freedom Legion” claims to be made up of anti-Kremlin fighters and fights alongside Ukrainian forces. The group is classified as a terrorist organization on Russian territory. Its members consider themselves to be pro-Kiev Russian fighters. Created in 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine, this volunteer unit has claimed responsibility for several ground attacks in Russia.

The group explains its goal on its website: “Armed struggle against the dictatorship of Putin and his entourage, who are depriving Russia of its future.” In addition to seeking to overthrow the Russian president, considered a “traitor” to Russia, “Russian Freedom Legion” demands an end to the war in Ukraine, the withdrawal of troops and the demilitarization of border regions.

While the group claims to be “the largest non-Ukrainian unit” and to have a “professional military command,” it refuses to disclose figures on its strength. The group, however, is said to have around 2,000 men, according to a article by The Express written last March.

How did she come to the forefront of the media scene?

The “Russian Freedom Legion” has distinguished itself in several armed incursions into Russia since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It regularly conducts infiltrations into Russia in the hope of destabilizing Moscow. In March, around the presidential election in which Vladimir Putin was unsurprisingly re-elected, these Russian volunteers increased their actions on the border with Ukraine.

The cities of Belgorod and Kursk were targeted, and the “Liberty Legion of Russia” even claimed responsibility for capturing the village of Tiotkino. The paramilitary group also claims raids against Russia as well as participation in the battles of “Bakhmut, Kharkiv, Sumy and in the south of Ukraine”.

Is it the only pro-kyiv Russian organization?

The “Russian Freedom Legion” is not alone. Thus, the “Russian Volunteer Corps” and the “Siberian Battalion” were involved in raids in the Belgorod or Kursk region. The first is a Russian nationalist and far-right paramilitary group. Its founder is the neo-Nazi Denis Kapustin, whose positioning serves Kremlin propaganda who claims to want to “denazify” Ukraine.

The members of the “Siberian battalion”, also called the “Sibir battalion”, were the first Russians to formally sign a contract with the Ukrainian army, in October 2023. Most of them come from the Russian Far East, some from the Caucasus, which explains why the paramilitary group opposes Russian imperialism.

But with a more moderate conservative orientation, the “Russian Freedom Legion” hopes to appeal more broadly. And in particular, the Russian supporters of Alexei Navalny, the main opponent of the Kremlin, who died in prison in February.

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