Anti-Putin paramilitaries claim incursion into Russia from Ukraine
Ukrainian military denies ordering volunteer militias involved in attacks in Russian border regions.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Ukraine’s military intelligence has stated that the anti-Putin Russian volunteer militias involved in recent attacks in Russian border regions were not acting under orders from Kyiv. Pro-Ukrainian militias reported crossing into the Kursk and Belgorod regions and launching attacks, which Russia claims to have repelled. The attacks occurred just before Russia’s presidential election. The Ukrainian offensive caused fires at two oil refineries in Russia. The raids were attributed to groups like the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion. While clashes continued, Russian forces declared they had thwarted the attacks. The incursions led to disruptions, including schools switching to online classes in Kursk. The attack coincided with significant drone strikes launched by Kyiv in various Russian regions, resulting in damage to facilities like Lukoil’s NORSI refinery.