Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine announced attacks this Wednesday on two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border and called on civilians to leave.
“We are forced to attack military positions stationed in the cities of Belgorod and Kursk. To avoid civilian casualties, we call on everyone to immediately leave these cities,” said three pro-Kiev military units – the Freedom for Russia Chegion and the Russian Volunteer Corps. and “Siberian Battalion” – on the Telegram social network.
The announcement came a day after incursions into the border areas of Belgorod and Kursk claimed by the units and which the Russian Defense Ministry said were repelled.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Russian military and security forces killed 234 militants while foiling an armed incursion into the border region involving eight urban centers, mainly the cities of Belgorod and Kursk, claimed by Russian opponents of the Kremlin in Ukraine. .
In a statement, the ministry attributed the attack to the “Kyiv regime” and “Ukrainian terrorist formations,” insisting that Russian military and border forces managed to stop the attackers and prevent a cross-border attack. The Russian government added that the attackers lost seven tanks and five armored vehicles.
However, Kyiv did not comment on Moscow’s statements.
An armed invasion claimed by Russian opponents of the Kremlin in Ukraine has rocked the border region just days before Russia’s presidential election, authorities said.
The cross-border ground attack has weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin’s argument that the war has not affected life in that country, although it remains all but certain that he will win another six-year term after all opposition is eliminated, the North American news agency AP reported.
Reports of border fighting are unclear, making it difficult to determine with certainty what happened in the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod regions.
The soldiers, who Kyiv authorities say are Russian volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine, claim to have crossed the border.
The Russian Freedom Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps and Siberian Battalion posted statements and videos on social media showing their presence in Russia and said they wanted to “liberate Russia from Putin’s dictatorship.”
The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
According to the governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, the militants who fled Ukraine tried to get to the city of Tetkino, located near the border. According to the same official, Tetkino was bombed.
Representative of the Ukrainian special service Andrei Yusov told Ukrainskaya Pravda that the military groups include Russian citizens.
“On the territory of the Russian Federation they operate completely autonomously and independently,” he added.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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