A Ukraine-backed sabotage group invaded Russia on Monday, pushing eight kilometres past the frontier into three villages.
Ukrainian military intelligence, the GUR, confirmed that a group of Ukraine-backed Russian partisans were carrying out an operation in the Belgorod region to create a “security strip”.
The mission was launched by the Freedom of Russia Legion to protect Ukrainian civilians and was being carried out exclusively by Russian citizens, a GUR spokesman told Suspilne, Ukraine’s public broadcaster.
The Legionhad “liberated” the village of Kozinka and entered Graivoron, according to a post on the Telegram.
The mission was launched by the Freedom of Russia Legion to protect Ukrainian civilians and was being carried out exclusively by Russian citizens
Reuters/ Liberty of Russia Legion Press Service
The group also posted pictures of its “free Russia” flag in the areas and drone footage by Ukrainian military channels showed shells blasting through Russian border posts and fighting vehicles.
“Residents of Russia, we are Russians just like you. We are distinguished only by the fact that we no longer want to justify the actions of criminals in power and took up arms to defend our and your freedom,” soldiers of the Legion said.
“Today is the time for everyone to take responsibility for their future. It’s time for the Kremlin’s dictatorship to end.”
A senior aide to President Zelensky denied that Kyiv had a role in the operation.
“Ukraine is watching the events in the Belgorod region of Russia with interest and studying the situation, but it has nothing to do with it,” the presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.
“As you know, tanks are sold at any Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are composed of Russian citizens.”
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said “a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian armed forces” was responsible for the attack, adding that Kremlin security forces were “taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy”.
Russian partisan units have previously tried to raid the border twice but it is the first time they have attempted to seize settlements by force and hold them.
Ukraine has been planning the operation for some time, according to documents leaked by Jack Teixeira, a US airman.
“Ukraine provides comprehensive support to Russian volunteers ready to liberate Russian territories from President Putin’s tyranny by armed means.
Russian partisan units have previously tried to raid the border twice but it is the first time they have attempted to seize settlements by force and hold them
Reuters
"Such detachments are equipped with various qualitative types of Nato weapons; the personnel has passed respective training for usage of such weapons and has successful combat experience from various parts of the front line in Ukraine,” one document read.
“The reporting speaks of volunteers’ infiltration operations into Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod oblasts being planned for March-April 2023 in order to seize control over territories and declare newly created states.
"It is also planned to begin formation of a larger military component based on volunteers to create a civil war front in Russia.”
The soldiers who carried out the raid were Russian, but were wearing Ukrainian camouflage, holding Nato-standard rifles and driving American-made Humvees into battle, under the watchful eye of Ukrainian reconnaissance teams.
