Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian intelligence official, said on Thursday, the 14th of March, that armed groups he described as Russians opposed to the Kremlin were continuing their incursion into Russian territory and had turned two border regions, Belgorod and Kursk, into “active combat zones”, with the governor of Belgorod saying after inspecting the villages that there were no more enemy fighters there, reports Reuters.
“Kursk and Belgorod are now active combat zones. We confirm this,” Yusov said on state TV, adding that the militants were Russian citizens “who have no other options and are defending their civil rights against the Putin regime with weapons”.
The city’s residents have posted on social networks the aftermath of the attacks – smashed windows of residential houses, burning cars and shells on the streets. On Friday morning, the day of the Russian “elections”, scenes were posted in the city of what appeared to be a burning car.
“Election” Day in Belgorod??
Russian citizens, serving in the ?? Army, are attacking southern Russia?? as tens of thousands of civilians flee.
Putin, who is responsible for this & the death of hundreds of thousands of his own people, will “win” 77% today.
? End Putin. pic.twitter.com/ysoOOacjbZ
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) March 15, 2024
Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, said on his Telegram that there were no Ukrainian forces in one of the attack areas, but he added that the village of Kozinka “was badly hit. The damage is very serious.” Residents have been evacuated to places where they are safe.
Gladkov previously stated that two people had been killed and at least 20 wounded in attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Roman Starovoit, Governor of the Kursk Region, gave few details, but noted on Telegram that “Ukrainian terrorists have not stopped their attempts to smuggle saboteurs into our territory”.
One of the three armed groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, told on Telegram that in view of the “limited military operation” taking place in the two regions, it was calling on the inhabitants of certain towns to leave the area.
The other, the Siberian Battalion, said it had observed a “panic mood” in the town of Grayvorona, near Kozinka, where cars were queuing to leave.
Ukrainska Pravda reported on the evacuation of residents from Belgorod region, Grayvorona and Grayvorona oblast.
Russians are fleeing the town of Grayvoron after fighting between Ukrainian ?? and Russian Forces is reported to be taking place near the border and in the village of Kozinka pic.twitter.com/ExlVbUxr5R
— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) March 14, 2024
Two of these militant groups had reported the launch of a cross-border invasion earlier in the week.
Russian officials have regarded these groups as puppets of the Ukrainian army and the US Central Intelligence Agency, which Moscow says are trying to cause chaos in Russia.
Also read: VIDEO | Russian anti-Kremlin militants claim to have begun an incursion into Russia