Anti-Russian militias who crossed the border on the 22nd and 23rd and invaded Russia’s Belgort Oblast hinted at further attacks on the Russian mainland. There are two known anti-Russian militias, the Russian Free Corps (FRL) and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). They say they have confirmed that Russia is not preparing for an attack, adding to the chaos on the Russian border ahead of a major Ukrainian counteroffensive.
◆Militia commander “There will be a place where it gets fierce again”
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 24th (local time), the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), known as the “White Rex,” an anti-Russian militant group, held a guerrilla press conference in the forests of northern Ukraine near the Russian border (Belgo At the time of the invasion of Rutju), he mentioned the possibility of a re-attack, saying that the Russian army showed loopholes in its belated response.
“Russia must prepare for further attacks on (our) borders,” said the commander, warning that “the borders can be vulnerable anywhere.”
“Russia’s border with Ukraine is quite long,” he bluffed, saying, “There will be places where it gets fierce again.”
Another commander praised the success of the Russian border incursion operation, saying, “Russia’s military and political leadership has confirmed that it is defenseless against our attack.”
Commander Caesar (pseudonym) said, “The reaction was slow, and I was terrified. The system collapsed, and (response) did not start for several hours.”
Earlier, on the 22nd and 23rd, the Russian Free Corps, a militia made up of Russians, made a surprise raid on the Belgort Oblast on the Russian border from Ukraine, and it was claimed that they also took control of the Kozhinka settlement. The Russian militias, the Russian Free Corps and the Russian Volunteer Corps, claimed responsibility for the raid.
The Russian Volunteer Corps commander and fighter stood with camouflage masks and machine guns in front of an armored vehicle they said they had used to occupy Russia, the media described.
Aware of the Russian missile attack, they set a 40-minute time limit on their press conference. After 40 minutes, the militiamen left in a pickup truck and an armored vehicle they claimed had been captured.
The media evaluated, “The press conference appears to be a victory lap (where the winner goes around the track for about one more lap after the race) to emphasize the weakness of the Russian army and to shape the narrative of the battle.”
◆ “Ukrainian help is actually… All decisions are independent”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called the raid a terrorist act.
According to local media on the 24th, he said at a meeting of security officials held in Moscow, the Russian capital, “We will respond very harshly to the actions of Ukrainian combatants with similar military operations.”
They denied the theory of involvement in Ukraine, which was claimed by Russia, but agreed that it was a cooperative relationship.
White Rex claimed that prior to the raid, Ukrainian forces were aware of their group’s intentions and assisted in the planning. He specifically informed that he provided gasoline for vehicles and medical assistance for wounded soldiers.
“It is clear that everything we do at the Ukrainian border is in cooperation with the Ukrainian military,” he said, adding, “After leaving the Ukrainian border, all our actions and decisions are ours.”
At the same time, it dismissed the American-made armored vehicles operated by the Russian Free Corps as direct purchases, not provided by the Ukrainian military.
It also suffered losses in the last battle, but did not disclose specific loss of life.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.