Pro-Ukraine Russian soldiers storm border region, claim ‘liberation’ of villages

KYIV — Two Russian military groups reportedly fighting on Kyiv’s side of the war in Ukraine — Legion of Free Russia and Russian Volunteer Corps — said they entered Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday and overran villages.

“The Legion and the RVC completely liberated Kozinka village, Belgorod Oblast. Forward units have entered Graivoron. Moving on. Russia will be free!” the Legion tweeted.

The Russian groups claimed the liberation of at least two villages — Kozinka, and Gora-Podol — in the region bordering Ukraine.

Local Russian Telegram channels and media reported heavy fighting in several villages next to the border, including Graivoron, a town where a Russian military base is located.

“Ukrainian Armed Forces saboteurs group entered the territory of the Graivoronsk district. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation together with the Border Service, the Russian Guard, and the FSB [intelligence service] are taking the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy,” Belgorod Governor Viacheslav Gladkov said in a statement.

He later added on his Telegram channel that a “counter-terrorist operation” had been launched by the Russian authorities, including ID checks and “the suspension of the activities of industries that use ‘explosive, radioactive, chemically and biologically hazardous substances.’”

The Ukrainian Military Intelligence Department claimed that both military groups consist only of Russian citizens and aim to create a demilitarized zone on the border with Ukraine.

“Yes, today the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion of Freedom of Russia, consisting of citizens of the Russian Federation, launched an operation to liberate these territories of the Belgorod region from the so-called Putin regime and push back the enemy in order to create a certain security zone to protect the Ukrainian civilian population,” Andriy Yusov, Ukraine’s military intelligence representative, told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne.

Legion of Free Russia on Monday morning published a video statement on its Telegram channel, claiming the soldiers storming Belgorod are Russians who want to liberate Russia from Putin. “Stay at home, do not resist, and do not be afraid: We are not your enemies. Unlike Putin’s zombies, we do not touch civilians and do not use them for our purposes. Freedom is near.”