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☆ Ukraine war updates: Russia heads to the polls; pro-Ukraine groups continue border assault
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Russians head to the polls on Friday in a presidential election that is all but certain to grant President Vladimir Putin a fifth term in power. Voting will take place over three days, though there is no credible opponent to the incumbent leader. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that Russian attempts to hold elections in occupied territories or to force regional residents to head to the polls would be "illegal" — a sentiment echoed by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in a separate briefing, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, skirmishes continued Thursday in the Russian border regions of Belgorod and Kursk as three Ukraine-based Russian paramilitary groups — the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Siberia and RDK battalions — seek to break into Russian territory.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Russian, of Russia Legion Locations: Russian, Belgorod, Kursk, Ukraine, Siberia

☆ Russian defectors fighting for Ukraine are attacking their motherland and rolling across the border in tanks: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Paramilitary groups comprising Russian defectors attacked their own country on Tuesday. One group, the Freedom of Russia Legion said they were there to liberate their countrymen. AdvertisementArmed groups of Russian defectors attacked their homeland on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Russian presidential elections. "We are not coming to kill, erase, or punish," the Freedom of Russia Legion said in a video statement, per the Kyiv Post. AdvertisementIn December, the Freedom of Russia legion claimed responsibility for an attack near Terebreno village, in Belgorod.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Andriy Yusov, Yusov, weren't Organizations: of Russia Legion, Service, Siberian Battalion, Kremlin, of Russia, Ukraine's, Russian Volunteer Corps, Russian Federation, TASS, Russian Locations: Russia's, Kyiv, Ukraine, Belgorod, Russia, Terebreno

☆ Resistance fighters blew up a Russian military headquarters and killed 3 officers in occupied territory, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Resistance fighters killed at least three Russian national guard officers, Ukraine said. The attack is part of a resistance movement against Russia in occupied Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementResistance fighters set off an explosion in a Russian headquarters building that killed at least three national guard officers, Ukrainian intelligence said. Ukrainian resistance fighters have previously claimed to have killed dozens of Russian soldiers by poisoning them. One Russian dissident group, the Liberty of Russia Legion, has taken responsibility for attacks in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.

Persons: —, GUR, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Russian, Service, Main Directorate of Intelligence, Liberty of Russia Legion Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Crimea, Russian, Liberty, Russia's Belgorod

Aziz Umerov looks at a portrait of his sister Leniye Umerova, a Ukrainian from Russian-annexed Crimea arrested in Russia, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 11, 2023. A Reuters review of Rudenko's social media account on Telegram didn't find any messages critical of the war. Russia's top investigative body, the Investigative Committee, the Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General's Office didn't respond to requests for comment on the phenomenon of carousel arrests or individual cases. A Reuters review of Russian court records identified seven cases of carousel arrests this year, with the suspects involved arrested and jailed between two and five times in succession. Not all "carousel" arrests lead to more serious criminal charges, and for some detainees, time spent behind bars is frightening enough.

Persons: Aziz Umerov, Leniye Umerova, Gleb Garanich, Rudenko's, Yulia Kiselyova, he'd, Kiselyova, Ivan Vtorushin, Valeriya, Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Alexei Navalny, Lauren McCarthy, McCarthy, Gevorg, Dmitry Golovlyov, Aleksanyan, Rudenko, Mike Collett, White Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Russian, Investigative, Interior Ministry, First Department, PUTIN, WHO, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Federal Security Service, of Russia Legion, Russia Legion, Thomson Locations: Russian, Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, Bucha, Rudenko, Crimean Tatars, Ukrainian

☆ The anti-Putin Freedom of Russia Legion says it has 'ambitious plans' for more cross-border raids into Russia, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Freedom of Russia Legion comprises defectors from the Russian army and other volunteers. The anti-Putin group launched two cross-border raids into the Belgorod region in May and June. Its commander told The Observer it's planning more attacks, bolstered by the dissolution of Wagner. "There will be a further surprise in the next month or so," the Freedom of Russia Legion's spokesperson and commander, Caesar, told the newspaper. The Freedom of Russia Legion is based in Ukraine and comprises a few hundred soldiers, who are defectors from the Russian army and other volunteers fighting against their homeland.

Persons: Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Caesar, Caesar —, —, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Russia Legion, Putin, Observer, Service, Legion, Guardian, Russian, Wagner Group Locations: Belgorod, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, Shebekino, Al Jazeera, Moscow

☆ Ukraine has a network of sabotage agents in Russia and is sending them drone for attacks, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US officials believe Ukraine is fostering a network of anti-Putin rebels in Russia, CNN reported. They also believe that such groups were behind the drone explosion over the Kremlin in May. Ukraine has not claimed any connection to such groups, but is reaping the military benefits. Several unnamed US officials believe the May 3 drone incident above the Kremlin was among several attacks carried out by such agents, the outlet reported. But, CNN reported, some US officials believe that pro-Ukraine partisans could have launched the drone from within Russia, bypassing such defenses.

Persons: —, Vasyl Malyuk, Cotton, Malyuk, Russia's, Kyrylo, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Putin, CNN, Kremlin, Service, Liberty of Russia Legion, UK's Ministry of Defense, coy, for Locations: Ukraine, Russia, May, Belgorod, Putin Russian, Russia's, Ukrainian, Zelenskyy, Moscow

☆ Who are the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, June 5 (Reuters) - Two armed groups, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and Freedom of Russia Legion, say they have carried out attacks in Russia's western Belgorod region in recent weeks. RUSSIAN VOLUNTEER CORPSThe RVC was founded by a far-right Russian national last August and comprises Russians who have been fighting in and for Ukraine against their own country. [1/2] Members of Russian Volunteer Corps stand next to an armoured vehicle in this undated handout picture obtained by Reuters on May 23, 2023. "I have my set of views, it's a patriotic set of views, it's a traditionalist set of views, it's a right-wing set of views," he said. FREEDOM OF RUSSIA LEGIONThe Freedom of Russia Legion says it was formed in spring 2022 "out of the wish of Russians to fight in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against Putin's armed gang".

Persons: REUTERS Denis Kapustin, it's, you'll, Tom Balmforth, Max Hunder, Timothy Organizations: Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Kyiv, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Legion, Foreign, Reuters, REUTERS, Defamation, Nazi, RUSSIA, Russia Legion, Armed Forces of, Belgorod, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russia's, Belgorod, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Russian, Germany, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Pro-Ukraine Russian partisans plan to give prisoners to Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KYIV, June 4 (Reuters) - A pro-Ukraine group of Russian partisans on Sunday said it had captured several soldiers during a cross-border raid into southern Russia and would hand them over to Ukrainian authorities. The Russian Volunteer Corps made the claim in a video statement released on Telegram in the wake of a raid into the Russian region of Belgorod. The one minute and 26 second video clip showed what appeared to be around a dozen Russian soldiers being held captive, with two lying on hospital beds. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, earlier agreed to meet the group if the soldiers were still alive. Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps are seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border, in Ukraine May 24, 2023.

Persons: Moscow, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Gladkov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Dan Peleschuk, Caleb Davis, David Ljunggren, Gareth Jones, Will Dunham Organizations: Sunday, Russian Volunteer Corps, Corps, of Russia Legion, Russia Legion, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Belgorod, Viacheslav, Novaya Tavolzhanka

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke in Finland Friday about peace talks in Ukraine. "The prerequisite for meaningful diplomacy and real peace is a stronger Ukraine," he said. Blinken described the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a catastrophic strategic failure for Moscow that had strengthened NATO, the European Union and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials acknowledged their forces were responsible and claimed Russian ships were evacuating the port. The U.K. Ministry of Defense said the incursions could be a Ukrainian strategy to disperse Russian forces before a counteroffensive.

Persons: Antony Blinken, —, Blinken, Potemkin, Grigory Potemkin, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Washington, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Serhii Popko, Denis Pushilin, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Roman Starovoit, Alexander Bogomaz Organizations: Service, —, Kremlin, NATO, European Union, General's, Gov, Russia Legion, Air, Ministry of Defense Locations: Finland, Ukraine, United States, Russia, China, Moscow, Kyiv, Crimean, Sweden, Baltic, Beijing, Brazil, Western, Azov, Berdyansk, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, Ukraine's, Donetsk province, Russia's Belgorod, Belgorod, Kursk, Russia's Bryansk, Russia's, Smolensk, Belarus

☆ Pro-Kyiv group reports second day of fighting in Russia's Belgorod
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Alexei Baranovsky, spokesperson for the political wing of the Freedom of Russia Legion, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Warsaw, Poland June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kuba StezyckiJune 2 (Reuters) - A group of pro-Ukrainian forces said on Friday they were fighting Russian troops on the outskirts of a village just inside Russia's western border, a day after Moscow said it had repelled three cross-border attacks. "We have active fighting on the outskirts of the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka (in Belgorod region). Unfortunately, there are wounded legionnaires, but freedom is won through blood," the Freedom of Russia Legion said in a statement. "One of our tactical aims is to draw Russian troops from other parts of the Ukrainian front," he said in an interview in Warsaw on Thursday.

Persons: Alexei Baranovsky, Kuba, Vladimir Putin's, Tom Balmforth, Agnieszka Pikulicka, Timothy Heritage, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: of Russia Legion, Reuters, REUTERS, Russian, Russian Volunteer Corps, Russia Legion, Renault, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Russian, Moscow, Russia's, Belgorod, Ukraine, Novaya Tavolzhanka, Belgorod region, Russia, Russia's Belgorod, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine’s cross-border tactics are aimed at destabilizing Russia. Judging by the response, they’re working
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sam Kiley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The operations of Russian citizens, carrying Ukrainian military ID, wearing Ukrainian uniforms and attacking from Ukraine, remain officially opaque. Back then, “Little Green Men” in peculiar two-tone sport-hunting uniforms – and Russian military fatigues – appeared in Crimea. The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom for Russia Legion – which fall under Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence structure – have been conducting short cross-border raids into Russia. Russia rattledIn Ukraine, it suits Kyiv to have Russians invade Russia on its behalf. Previous days with all the shelling - there was almost no response, no (Russian) military.

Persons: coy, what’s, “, fatigues –, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Sergey Bobok, for Russia Legion –, –, Putin, it’s, ”, ” Putin, Prigozhin, Wagner, “ Wagner, Yulia Morozova, you’ve, ” Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Shebekino Organizations: CNN, Fighters, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Getty, for Russia Legion, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, Frontline, Kremlin, Russian, Russian Federation, “ Wagner PMC, Russia, Kyiv, Reuters, Russian Telegram Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Simferopol, Soviet, AFP, South, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Pretoria, destabilization, Belgorod –, Moscow, Kursk, Smelensk, Russian, St Petersburg, Soviet Union, Belgorod, Shebekino, “

☆ Russia deployed its feared thermobaric missile launcher on its own territory to repel an attack by insurgents, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia said it deployed at least one thermobaric missile launcher on its own territory, per the UK MOD. Russia said it was to repel attacks, as Russian rebel groups raided Belgorod. It shows Russia has a dilemma between using weapons on its own territory or in Ukraine, the MOD said. Russia has previously deployed thermobaric rocket launchers in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, who shared footage of their forces destroying one. The UK MOD said that with the equipment deployed, the "Russia military and interior forces have likely seen quicker success in containing this raid than the previous one."

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Russian, Forbes, Russia, Liberty of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Russia Legion Locations: Russia, Belgorod, Ukraine, Russia's, Belgorod —, Liberty, Russians, Russian

☆ Anti-Kremlin rebels are back marauding inside Russia and triggering fears Putin's forces can't defend the homeland
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sam Fellman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A small group of anti-Kremlin Russians with armored vehicles crossed into the Belgorod region of Russia. Images captured the damage they caused inside Russia, and triggered debate and skepticism of Putin's regime. The melee adds to fears that Russia's troops are not up to the task of stopping a looming Ukrainian counter-offensive. But their operation has succeeded in one critical aspect: Creating images of wreckage inside Russia's borders that are reigniting debates among hardliners deeply skeptical of Russian officialdom. —Novaya Gazeta Europe (@novayagazeta_en) June 2, 2023According to Russia's TASS state-run news agency, Ukraine's military "repeatedly shelled" Shebekino, injuring more than 10 people and Russian troops had stopped them from entering the village.

Persons: —, Igor Girkin, Vladimir Putin, that's Organizations: Kremlin, Service, of Russia Legion, Novaya Gazeta Europe, Russia's TASS, Institute for Locations: Belgorod, Russia, Ukrainian, Shebekino, Ukraine, Russian, Western, Belgorod Oblast

☆ Ukraine repels new Russian air barrage as Moscow contends with cross-border attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said two people had been killed and two others injured when Ukrainian forces shelled a road in the town of Maslova Pristan near the Ukrainian border. Russia said on Thursday it had repelled a second attempted incursion into the Belgorod region in just over a week by what it casts as pro-Ukrainian militants. Russia said on Thursday it had repelled an attempted incursion into the Belgorod region by what it casts as pro-Ukrainian militants. Along with the Russian Volunteer Corps founded by a far-right Russian nationalist, it says they are Russian volunteers attacking under their own steam, and not on the orders of Ukraine. Thousands of people in Ukraine have since been killed in Russian attacks, millions have fled and towns and cities have been devastated, particularly in Russian-speaking areas.

Persons: Vyacheslav Gladkov, Vladimir Putin's, Putin, David Ljunggren, Guy Faulconbridge, Tom Balmforth, Philippa Fletcher, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Kyiv, Ukrainian, Russia Legion, Renault, Russian, Russian Volunteer Corps, Chechen, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Shebekino, Belgorod, Russia's Belgorod, Russian, KYIV, Kyiv Russian, Moscow, Kyiv, Maslova Pristan, Ukrainian, Novaya Tavolzhanka, Bryansk, Kursk, Smolensk, Kaluga, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia region, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Russia is caught between using its military to fight attacks within its own borders and invading Ukraine, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UK MOD said it shows how Russia caught in a "dilemma" about how to use its strength. The UK Ministry of Defence said in an update on Friday that recent attacks in the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, left Russia's military with hard choices to make. The UK MOD said "partisan groups" attacked the city on Thursday, for the second time in 10 days, though it didn't name any. That shows the decision Russia's military now has about where to use its weaponry. The Liberty of Russia Legion says it cooperates with Ukraine's military, though Ukraine denied any involvement with attacks in Russia and said the group is made up entirely of dissident Russians.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, they've Organizations: MOD, Service, UK Ministry of Defence, Russia, Liberty of Russia Legion, Putin, Russian Volunteer Corps, Russia Legion Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russian, Belgorod, Russia's, Liberty, Vladivostok, Putin Russian

☆ The Kremlin wants everyone to chill out after firebrand nationalists and military honchos called for martial law in response to drone attacks on Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian firebrand leaders called for martial law after drone attacks reportedly struck Moscow. Imposing martial law is a "prerogative of the highest federal power," a spokesperson reminded the press. Kadyrov, known for issuing blistering, aggressive statements, decried Kyiv's leadership as "Nazis" and "Satanists," blaming them for the drone attacks. "The country must be put on martial law," Prigozhin said in a visit to Novosibirsk, per Sibkray News. On Tuesday, Russia's defense ministry said at least eight drone attacks had been launched at Moscow, resulting in minor damage to some residential neighborhoods.

Persons: hasn't, —, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's, Peskov, Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, Kyiv's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Prigozhin Organizations: firebrand, Service, RIA Novosti, Kremlin, Kyiv, of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps, State Department Locations: Moscow, Russia, Chechen, Ukraine, Russian, Siberian, Novosibirsk, Belgorod, Novo

☆ Anti-Putin dissident fighters say they will launch another attack on Russian soil, and pledge to 'liberate the whole of Russia'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Liberty of Russia Legion said it will soon reenter Russia, to bring "freedom, peace, and calm." In a Telegram post on Thursday, the Liberty of Russia Legion said that it was "near the border of our homeland," according to CNN's translation. The Liberty of Russia Legion has described Putin as a dictator leading a tyrannical regime, and as someone who kills Russians who oppose him. The group claimed responsibility last week for an attack on the Russian border region of Belgorod, alongside the Russian Volunteer Corps. The Liberty of Russia Legion said on May 22 that it had carried out the "liberation" of several villages in the area.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Russia Legion, Putin, Service, Liberty of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps, Nazi, Reuters Locations: Russian, Russia, Liberty, Belgorod, Vladivostok, Russia's Belgorod, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russians, Kyiv

"The selfless actions of Russian servicemen repelled three attacks by Ukrainian terrorist formations," the Russian ministry said. Ukraine denies its military is involved in the incursions into Belgorod and says they are conducted by Russian volunteer fighters. BORDER ATTACKReuters was able to verify video footage which showed damaged military targets near Shebekino but not the date of the images. The attacks on Belgorod, Peskov said, would have absolutely no impact on the course of what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Another group, known as the Freedom of Russia Legion, posted footage of armed soldiers and vehicles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Gladkov, Putin, Guy Faulconbridge, Felix Light, George Sargant, Andrew Cawthorne, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Russia Kremlin, Ukrainian, Russian, Federal Security Service, Kremlin, Kyiv, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia Legion, Milan Pavicic, Thomson Locations: Russia, MOSCOW, Ukraine, Moscow, Shebekino, Belgorod, Ukrainian, Russian, Novaya Tavolzhanka, Tbilisi, London, Gdansk

☆ Opinion: The war on Russia’s doorstep just got uncomfortably close
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Then on Tuesday morning a drone attack on the Russian capital brought the conflict to Russian soil with fresh clarity. The aim here appears not to actually occupy Russian land – but to send a message to Putin and the Russian public that the Ukraine war is a waste of blood and treasure. What is perhaps likely in the short term, is that Russia will use a hybrid strategy to attack Ukraine and make life uncomfortable for the West. It is reasonable to assume that Putin will not end this war voluntarily, by submitting to a ceasefire or peace deal. And with the war he started getting uncomfortably close, I believe Putin’s days in office could be numbered as well.

Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, CNN —, Michael Bociurkiw Chrystia, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Putin, David, Goliath, Kyiv’s, ”, Zelensky, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Rather Organizations: Atlantic Council, Organization for Security, Cooperation, CNN, Russia, Putin, Kremlin, Kyiv, Russian Volunteer Corps, of Russia, Ukraine, Legion, Armed Forces of, New York Times, Nazi, Twitter Locations: Odesa, Europe, Iraq, United States, Putin Russian, Belgorod, Ukrainian, Berdiansk, Moscow, Ukraine, ”, Russia, Kyiv, Washington, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ Footage appears to show low-flying Russian Su-34s dropping bombs on anti-Putin militias and missing the target, says report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Footage appears to show Russian Su-34 jets bombing a checkpoint within their own borders. The video shows two jets dropping high-level explosives from an "ultra-low altitude." The video appears to show the jets missing the target, a building at Russia's own checkpoint. The legion said it sent units to Grayvoron, and footage purportedly from the checkpoint appears to show armored vehicles taking over the post, The Guardian reported on Tuesday. Last month, a Russian Su-34 accidentally dropped a bomb on its own city of Belgorod, Insider previously reported.

In a Telegram post, groups calling themselves the “Freedom of Russia Legion” and “Russian Volunteer Corps” said they had “liberated” a settlement in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. The situation in Belgorod marks “the first time” that Ukrainian-aligned forces have launched “a cross-border land operation against Russian targets,” according to CNN’s Sam Kiley. A helicopter circles over Russia's Belgorod region, the site of fighting between Russian defectors and pro-Kremlin troops amid the war in Ukraine. The Freedom for Russia Legion numbers a few hundred of diehard, battle-hardened Russian volunteers fighting their own people as part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, said: “Russian forces are working to push out the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group from the territory of the Russian Federation and destroy it.

☆ Ukraine-backed Russian militants claim they've taken over a Russian village in a cross-border raid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine-backed Russian militants claim they've taken over territory in the Belgorod region. The Kremlin was informed of the cross-border raid and said it was "sabotage" from Kyiv. One legion of Russian freedom fighters announced the "liberation" of the area from Putin's regime. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyUkrainian-backed Russian militants claim they've taken control of Russian territory in a cross-border raid, announcing the "liberation" of the villages from Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. On Monday, the Liberty of Russia Legion militants said they were moving into the Belgorod region, a southern Russian area that borders Ukraine and is just miles north of Kharkiv.

☆ Ukrainian military intelligence: Russian groups behind incursion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, May 22 (Reuters) - Ukraine's military intelligence service blamed an armed operation in Russia's Belgorod region on Monday on "opposition-minded Russian citizens" from two paramilitary groups, Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske said. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said a Ukrainian army "sabotage group" had entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district, which borders Ukraine. Hromadske quoted military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov as saying the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps were responsible for the incursion. "Responsibility for these events was taken by citizens of (Russia), particularly the RDK and the 'Freedom of Russia' Legion," he said, using the acronym for the Russian Volunteer Corps. "I think we all can only welcome the decisive actions of opposition-minded Russian citizens, who are ready for an armed struggle against the criminal regime of (President) Vladimir Putin."

☆ Russian regional governor says Ukrainian 'sabotage group' crossed border
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 22 (Reuters) - The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said on Monday that a Ukrainian army 'sabotage group' had entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district, which borders Ukraine. In a statement on Telegram, Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Russian army, border guards, presidential guards and the FSB security service were taking measures to repel the incursion. Earlier, the Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to Russia's security services, had published footage apparently showing a Ukrainian armoured vehicle advancing on the Graivoron border checkpoint. Ukrainian media cited Ukrainian military intelligence as saying the Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, both consisting of Russian citizens, were behind the attack. Earlier on Monday, the group released a video showing five heavily armed fighters: "We are Russians, like you.

☆ Someone in Russia broke into a military airfield to set fire to a bomber jet, and Russian cops only found out it was happening on social media: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian authorities found out through social media that someone set fire to a military jet. Footage of the burning aircraft emerged on Monday on the Telegram channel for the Freedom of Russia Legion, a Ukrainian organization that consists of military defectors from Russia and Belarus. Local police then discovered the video online, reported the independent Russian media outlet Baza. But it reported that despite the Freedom of Russia Legion's claims that the Su-24 was "completely destroyed," the aircraft was "not particularly damaged." Russian authorities categorized the Freedom of Russia Legion as a terrorist group on March 16.

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