Pro-Ukrainian militias have reportedly taken control of a village near the border on the Russian side. Shortly before the Russian presidential elections, opponents of President Vladimir Putin are causing unrest with armed advances.
Russian fighters from a pro-Ukrainian militia say they have captured a town near the border in Russia. “The village of Tyotkino in the Kursk region is fully controlled by the Russian Liberation Forces,” the Freedom for Russia militia said in online services. The Russian army is withdrawing from the village, leaving heavy weapons behind.
The hamlet of Losovaya Rudka in the Belgorod region is said to be under the control of Putin’s opponents. Videos were shown, among other things, of a tank in a village. In their video messages, the hooded fighters in Ukrainian uniforms called for people to ignore the presidential election in Russia next Sunday.
Schools in Kursk are switching to online teaching
According to a media report, schools in the Russian city of Kursk are switching to online teaching. This is reported by the Tass news agency, citing local authorities. Kursk is not far from the Ukrainian border. “In connection with the recent events, I decided to switch schools to distance learning,” said Mayor Igor Kuzak.
Russian opponents of Putin had previously reported that they had moved into Russian towns near the Ukrainian border. “The Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion have advanced into the Kursk and Belgorod regions as part of a joint operation,” wrote former Russian Duma deputy Ilya Ponomaryov, who lives in Ukraine, on Telegram.
Vladimir Putin’s Defense Ministry: “Attacks have been repelled”
The Defense Ministry in Moscow said several attacks by gunmen from Ukraine had been repelled. The FSB, the domestic secret service responsible for border security, called reports of an intrusion across the border untrue.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the sabotage troops from Ukraine had only shelled villages near the border during the night. They then advanced with tanks and armored vehicles in three places in the Belgorod region. The attacks were repelled. In the morning, the attempted attack on Tyotkino in the Kursk region also failed. The Russian military information, like the information on the Ukrainian side, could not be independently verified.
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Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov emphasized in comments to Kiev media that the units were made up entirely of Russian citizens. “On the territory of the Russian Federation, they act absolutely autonomously, independently and implement their socio-political program,” the secret service representative told the Internet portal Ukrayinska Pravda.
The background is the presidential election planned for this week in Russia. Incumbent Vladimir Putin intends to be confirmed for another six years. In the spring of 2023, several attempts by Russian opponents of Putin to establish themselves in the Russian-Ukrainian border area failed. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over two years.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
