At least two armed groups, based in Ukraine and claiming to consist of Russians opposed to the Kremlin, announced on their social media pages that they had initiated an infiltration across Russia’s western border on Tuesday.
Both the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Siberian Battalion declared on their Telegram channels that they had launched attacks into Russia from Ukraine.
Historically, Russian officials have portrayed these groups as proxies of the Ukrainian military and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, which Moscow alleges is endeavoring to incite disorder within Russia.
“We will take our land from the regime centimeter by centimeter,” stated the Freedom of Russia Legion in its Telegram announcement.FIGHTING IN RUSSIA
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) March 12, 2024
The Freedom for Russia Legion, composed of Russians serving in the 🇺🇦 Army, posted a video with the comment “Crossed the Rubicon. Crossed the border.”
👉 The soldiers are engaged in heavy fighting with Putinist troops - inside of Russia. pic.twitter.com/TJb3QzPx5M
Historically, Russian officials have portrayed these groups as proxies of the Ukrainian military and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, which Moscow alleges is endeavoring to incite disorder within Russia.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, informed Ukraine’s 24 Channel that the groups were executing the operation on Russian soil independently of Ukraine.
Yusov indicated that a third group, the Russian Volunteer Corps, was also engaged in the operation.
The legion’s statement seemed to allude to the upcoming Russian election, slated for this weekend.
“The people will vote for whom they want, not for whom they have to. Russians will live freely,” asserted the group.
Both the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps have previously taken credit for other cross-border incursions into Russia from Ukraine.
Yusov indicated that a third group, the Russian Volunteer Corps, was also engaged in the operation.
The legion’s statement seemed to allude to the upcoming Russian election, slated for this weekend.
“The people will vote for whom they want, not for whom they have to. Russians will live freely,” asserted the group.
Both the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps have previously taken credit for other cross-border incursions into Russia from Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
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