Pro-Ukrainian Armed Groups launch attacks into Russia.
Ukrainian Troops on front lines of War with Russia. - (Harvard, 2024)
Last Tuesday, pro-Ukrainian groups composed of Russian volunteers launched a cross-border attack in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk, located on the Northeastern border between Ukraine and Russia. These incursions occurred as Kyiv launched drone attacks and shelling on the city Belgorod, killing two civilians, according to Moscow.[1] Russia quickly responded and claimed it had repelled the three main attack axes led by the Russian volunteers, according to a statement on Friday from Russia’s Ministry of Defense. It said, “The enemy was hit by aircraft, rockets, and artillery.” [2]
On Telegram, Ilya Ponomarev, a former member of the Russian parliament and the current political head of the Freedom of Russia legion, a Ukrainian-based paramilitary unit of Russian citizens, stated that two all-Russian volunteer units executed the raids: the Russian Volunteer Corps and Siberian Battalion. These groups claim that they do not operate under orders from Kyiv and are not part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[3]
The attacks appear deliberately orchestrated to coincide with the Russian presidential elections between March 15 and 17th: “This is not an election at all. It is the next stage of a usurpation of power, the formation of Putin’s dictatorship under the guise of elections,” asserted the spokesman of the political wing of the Freedom of Russia Legion.[4]
Limited attacks in Russian territory, like the most recent ones, also occurred in May and June of 2023, when the Freedom of Russia Legion temporarily took control of several Russian settlements.
Currently, Ukraine is suffering from slow but incremental territorial losses to advancing Russian forces. Last February, it lost the Eastern fortress city of Adiivka, which Ukraine held for ten years since the start of the Donbas conflict in 2014.[5] These limited raids in Russian territory could be interpreted as an attempt to divert Russian resources and attention away from their recent territorial gains.
Bibliography
[1] France 24. “Pro-Ukrainian Armed Groups Launch Incursion into Russia,” March 12, 2024. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240312-pro-ukrainian-armed-groups-launch-incursion-into-russia.
[2] Al Jazeera. “Anti-Putin Paramilitaries Claim Incursion into Russia from Ukraine.” Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/12/anti-putin-paramilitaries-claim-incursion-into-russia-from-ukraine.
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Axe, David. “Ukraine’s Fortress City Held For A Decade. But Russia Was Willing To Trade Tens Of Thousands Of Lives For It.” Forbes. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/07/ukraines-fortress-city-held-for-a-decade-but-russia-was-willing-to-trade-tens-of-thousands-of-lives-for-it/.
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