Pro-Ukraine fighters ‘liberate’ village in Russia’s Belgorod region
Kyiv denies direct involvement but says Russian fighters are seeking to create ‘security zone’ near border
A group of anti-Kremlin fighters stormed Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine on Monday, moving along a main road in armoured vehicles as Russian forces rushed to respond.
The sabotage group, made up of Russians who have aligned themselves with Ukraine’s military, claimed to be “liberating” Russian territory. The Kremlin promised to “destroy” the group, and videos shared by Belgorod residents showed attack helicopters flying over houses in the area.
While the anti-Kremlin Russian groups have previously mounted operations within Russia, this appears to be the first in which the goal is to occupy territory. A Ukrainian military intelligence official confirmed his government’s knowledge of the operation but stopped short of claiming direct involvement. The fighters in the videos appear to be from two Ukraine-based groups who oppose the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine: the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion. Both have claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack inside their native country.
The fighters in the videos appear to be from two Ukraine-based groups who oppose the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine: the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion. Both have claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack inside their native country. The Legion posted on its channel on the Telegram messaging app on Friday that it had “completely liberated” a tiny border settlement called Kozinka just inside Russia, and was moving inwards towards Graivoron, a settlement 60km from the regional centre. “Russia will be free!” it declared.
The Legion posted on its channel on the Telegram messaging app on Friday that it had “completely liberated” a tiny border settlement called Kozinka just inside Russia, and was moving inwards towards Graivoron, a settlement 60km from the regional centre. “Russia will be free!” it declared.
Russia is about to learn the hard way why supporting separatists can backfire immensely.
Russia will be free.
After a spectacular worldwide success, the Special Military Operation is coming home. Soon in a Russian city or village near you!
The Denazification & Demilitarization Tour 2023.
I hear there is a nuclear weapons storage (not launching) facility very near by
I wonder if they are headed for it.
This guys really cares just about picture on TV. Sends some gangsters to small village to make some noise for 2 hours. No war objectives in it at all.
6 comments
Various news outlets report the events with slight differences, posting a few different ones for the sake of transparency:
* [**Reuters**: “Russian regional governor says Ukrainian ‘sabotage group’ crossed border”](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/governor-russias-belgorod-says-ukrainian-sabotage-group-crossed-border-2023-05-22/)
* [**BBC**: “Ukraine war: Saboteurs cross into Russia’s Belgorod, governor says”](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65674773)
* [**NBC News:** “Russia says it battles saboteurs in cross-border raid by pro-Ukraine forces”](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-battles-saboteurs-cross-border-raid-ukraine-belgorod-rcna85557)
* [**Al Jazeera**: “Live: Ukraine ‘sabotage’ group crosses into Russia, governor says”](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/5/22/live-wagner-to-leave-bakhmut-ukraine-denies-citys-fall)
* [**The Guardian**: “Anti-Putin militia claims to have overrun Russian border village”](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/22/anti-kremlin-militia-freedom-of-russia-legion-overrun-russian-border-village-kozinka)
**Full FT article:**
Pro-Ukraine fighters ‘liberate’ village in Russia’s Belgorod region
Kyiv denies direct involvement but says Russian fighters are seeking to create ‘security zone’ near border
A group of anti-Kremlin fighters stormed Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine on Monday, moving along a main road in armoured vehicles as Russian forces rushed to respond.
The sabotage group, made up of Russians who have aligned themselves with Ukraine’s military, claimed to be “liberating” Russian territory. The Kremlin promised to “destroy” the group, and videos shared by Belgorod residents showed attack helicopters flying over houses in the area.
While the anti-Kremlin Russian groups have previously mounted operations within Russia, this appears to be the first in which the goal is to occupy territory. A Ukrainian military intelligence official confirmed his government’s knowledge of the operation but stopped short of claiming direct involvement. The fighters in the videos appear to be from two Ukraine-based groups who oppose the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine: the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion. Both have claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack inside their native country.
The fighters in the videos appear to be from two Ukraine-based groups who oppose the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine: the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion. Both have claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack inside their native country. The Legion posted on its channel on the Telegram messaging app on Friday that it had “completely liberated” a tiny border settlement called Kozinka just inside Russia, and was moving inwards towards Graivoron, a settlement 60km from the regional centre. “Russia will be free!” it declared.
The Legion posted on its channel on the Telegram messaging app on Friday that it had “completely liberated” a tiny border settlement called Kozinka just inside Russia, and was moving inwards towards Graivoron, a settlement 60km from the regional centre. “Russia will be free!” it declared.
Russia is about to learn the hard way why supporting separatists can backfire immensely.
Russia will be free.
After a spectacular worldwide success, the Special Military Operation is coming home. Soon in a Russian city or village near you!
The Denazification & Demilitarization Tour 2023.
I hear there is a nuclear weapons storage (not launching) facility very near by
I wonder if they are headed for it.
This guys really cares just about picture on TV. Sends some gangsters to small village to make some noise for 2 hours. No war objectives in it at all.