According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russian volunteer units against the Kremlin carried out an orchestrated attack in the Belgorod border area.
Two-unit groups of fighters opposed to President Vladimir Putin shared footage that appeared to show them operating inside Russia and pledged to “liberate” the country from under the autocrat’s rule.
Uniformed soldiers claiming to be from the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps shared separate videos of themselves posing with flags and in front of Russian road signs, calling for an end to the “dictatorship of the Kremlin.”
The clips came amid reports of a drone attack on Russia’s Golovchino district, in Belgorod Oblast, about 56 kilometers from the region’s capital of the same name. According to reports, the drone dropped an explosive device on an administrative building.
Putin-appointed regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov appealed to residents not to panic amid reports of multiple attacks in the border region.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russian volunteer units against the Kremlin carried out an orchestrated attack in the Belgorod border area. Pictured: A group of Russian anti-Kremlin soldiers speak on camera and say they are operating in Russia
Ukraine’s military intelligence service blames Russian citizens belonging to two paramilitary groups for the armed operation in Russia’s Belgorod region, Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske said.
It quoted military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov as saying that the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps were responsible for the operation.
“Responsibility for these events was taken by citizens of (Russia), in particular the RDK and the Legion of the ‘Freedom of Russia’,” Hromadske quoted military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov as saying, using the abbreviation for the Russian Volunteer Corps.
“I think we can all applaud the decisive actions of opposition-minded Russian citizens, who are ready for an armed struggle against the criminal regime of (President) Vladimir Putin.”
Yusov said the Belgorod operation would create a “safety zone” to protect Ukrainians from cross-border attacks by Russia.
Ukraine denied any involvement in the attack, but presidential adviser Mikhaylo Podolyak said: “Ukraine is following with interest the events in the Belgorod region of Russia and is studying the situation,” Kiev added “has nothing to do with it.”
Ukraine has previously denied responsibility for several reported sabotage attacks on Russian soil.
Podolyak suggested Russian “guerrilla groups” might be responsible.
“The only driving political force in a totalitarian country of tightened screws is always an armed guerrilla movement,” he said.
“As you know, tanks are sold in every Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are made up of Russian citizens.”
Russia has said the raid was designed by Ukraine to “divert attention from Bakhmut” after Moscow claimed to have taken the city over the weekend, but Kiev denied this.
The reported incursion came ahead of a widely expected counter-offensive by Kyiv.
In a video released online, fighters from Russia’s Volunteer Corps say they were in Russia in the early hours of Monday morning.
They released a nighttime video, with some standing in front of Russian traffic signs holding their flag, with a sword and shield on the front.
The images showed road signs in the Belgorod region.
“This is the Russian volunteer battalion,” said the group of four soldiers. “We have crossed the border of the Russian Federation again. Russia will still be free.’
In a second fragment, they were heard saying: ‘So the Russian volunteer is back in the motherland. We are home. The time to fight for the freedom of Russia has come.’
Another group, reportedly the Legion of Freedom of Russia, also said they were operating in Ukraine.
In a statement to the Russian people, the leader of the unit said Putin’s Russia is “rotten with corruption, lies, censorship, curtailment of freedoms, oppression.”
“It’s time to end the Kremlin dictatorship,” the soldier said.
In a video released online (pictured), fighters from the Russian Volunteer Corps said they were in Russia in the early hours of Monday morning
In a statement on Telegram, Governor Gladkov (pictured) said the Russian military and security forces were taking steps to repel the incursion
In a statement on Telegram, Governor Gladkov said the Russian military and security forces were taking steps to repel the incursion.
“A sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian armed forces” entered Russia’s Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
He added that troops and the security service of the FSB “took the necessary measures to eliminate the enemy.”
In its video message, the so-called Russian Volunteers Corps – an anti-Putin group operating out of Ukraine that has claimed to have crossed the border into Russia in the past, said: “Russia will soon be free.”
Earlier, the Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to the Russian security services, had published images of a Ukrainian tank that would attack a Russian border post. News agencies could not immediately verify the reports.
A separate video shared online showed the inside of a border checkpoint with the body of a uniformed soldier sprawled across the floor.
The Russian Volunteer Corps, which posted the video, said the body was that of a slain Russian border guard. “We entered almost unimpeded,” they said in the footage.
However, there was no independent confirmation of the attack on the border post.
Meanwhile, a Russian report said there had been “no casualties” among border guards and an enemy attack had been repelled.
Governor Gladkov had previously said that up to six villages had been attacked by drones and mortar fire. Footage reportedly shows smoke rising over the region, while a video claimed to show a roof in flames
“There is a massive information attack and calls for panic against the background of the massive shelling of the Graivoronsky district,” the governor said.
“I repeat, not a single civilian was injured or killed there.
“I also see the massive spread of calls for evacuation, shared on behalf of the Shebekinsky district. This is a lie,” he said.
“If things get worse or better, we’ll let you know right away. I’m at work, I’m with you. We will solve all our problems if we remain calm and do not listen to our enemies.’
According to reports, Golovchino district was hit by a drone strike.
“A quadcopter dropped an explosive device on the village administration building in Golovchino,” the governor said. The roof caught fire. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties.’
Pictured: A freeze frame from a video reportedly showing smoke rising over Russia’s Belgorod region on Sunday amid reports of a raid by Russian anti-Kremlin fighters
Gladkov said he would release more details later.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, the Belgorod border area in the south of the country has been repeatedly shelled and dozens of people have been killed.
Authorities have also reported a series of incidents involving members of ‘sabotage’ groups crossing over from Ukraine.
In April, the town of Belgorod was bombed by a Russian fighter jet that accidentally dropped ammunition over the town.