Russian volunteers “liberate” the Belgorod region and raise opposition flags over the cities of the Russian Federation.
On the morning of May 22, information appeared on Ukrainian social networks that supposedly some military formations were carrying out certain actions in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, and local residents began to report explosions and the movement of unmarked tanks.
Subsequently, responsibility for what is happening in the Belgorod region was assumed by Legion Freedom of Russia and Russian Volunteer Corps. According to the fighters of these formations, which are part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, their current work is a consequence of the aggressive policy of the Putin regime and the invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine.
The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirms this information and emphasizes that the operation to create a “security strip” to protect civilian Ukrainians on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out exclusively by Russian citizens.
“Liberated” territories and opposition flags
In the morning, active hostilities began in the border areas of the Belgorod region. Footage of shootings and explosions began to appear on social networks. Russian volunteers eventually reported that as a result of their raid, a checkpoint on the territory of the Belgorod region was destroyed. The network also published a video with the movement of military equipment across the border in the Russian Federation.
Closer to dinner, Russian volunteer units began to report on the first successful operations on the territory of the aggressor country. In particular, they allegedly “liberated” several settlements. In addition, the fighters also called on Russians who do not agree with the actions of the “Kremlin junta” to follow their example.
“Citizens of Russia! We are Russians just like you. We are only different because we did not want more recognition of the actions of criminals in power and took up arms to defend our freedom. But today it is time for everyone to take responsibility for their future. It’s time for the Kremlin’s dictatorship to end: Legion returns home,” the Russian volunteers say.
Legion of Freedom of Russia clarifiedthat the flags of free Russia were hung over the liberated cities of the Russian Federation and this is only the beginning of their mission.
“The first flags of free Russia met the dawn over the liberated cities. Raise the flags in your cities too. Freedom is near,” the message under the post says.
Around 14:00 Legion Freedom of Russia and RDK declared that they “liberated” Kozinka of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation and entered the city of Grayvoron.
“The Legion and the RDK completely dismissed the settlement of Kozinka, Belgorod Region. Forward detachments entered Grayvoron,” the volunteers of the Russian Federation added.
Around 16:00, Russian Telegram channels began to report on the shooting in the city of Grayvoron. And the propaganda media said that the deputy head of the city administration was injured.
Ukraine’s reaction
The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, in a comment to Suspіlny, said that Legion Freedom of Russia and Russian Volunteer Corps conduct an operation in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation in order to create a “safety zone” to protect Ukrainians.
“Responsibility for the events was assumed by the citizens of Russia from RDK – Russian volunteer corps – i Legion of Freedom of Russia. Ukraine welcomes the decisive actions of the opposition to the criminal aggressive Putin’s regime,” Andriy Chernyak, representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, added in a commentary for the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
He stressed that “the events of armed conflicts and protests by resistance forces inside the Russian Federation are acquiring signs of a trend, which gives reason to predict the continuation of the process of demilitarization of aggressive Putin’s Russia.”
“We confirm that Legion Freedom of Russia and RDK closely cooperate and interact with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine,” the representative of military intelligence said.
It should be noted that in parallel with the events in the Belgorod region, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, called on Russian servicemen to surrender. He stressed that the Kremlin has not been able to achieve any of the goals set since the invasion of Ukraine began for more than a year.
What they say in the Kremlin
The speaker of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that Vladimir Putin had already been informed about the breakthrough of the Russian border in the Belgorod region. According to him, the FSB, the Ministry of Defense and border guards reported to Putin, and now work is underway to squeeze “Ukrainian saboteurs” out of Russia and destroy them.
“There are enough forces and means on the spot,” Peskov assured.
In his opinion, the purpose of this “sabotage” of Ukraine is to divert Russia’s attention from the Bakhmut direction in order to minimize the political effect of the alleged “loss” of Bakhmut.
At the same time, Russian Telegram channels write that the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Belgorod Region has introduced the Edelweiss plan – a general gathering of employees has been announced in all police departments in the region.
It should be noted that an air raid alert has been sounding in the region since lunchtime. Huge traffic jams formed at the exit from Belgorod itself from the cars of Russians seeking to leave the city due to the outbreak of hostilities in the region.
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