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Russia Army forces in Ukraine have crossed the borders into Russia, engaging in combat to protect Belgorod
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By Smartencyclopedia Newsroom*

According to Ilya Ponomarev, a Russian politician in exile claiming to represent a group of fighters, Russian combatants who serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces have entered Shebekino, a town in Russia’s Belgorod region. Ponomarev stated that they have brought along significant military equipment. This information was shared with Newsweek.

Following Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov’s announcement of shelling in the border town of Shebekino that caused injuries to at least eight individuals, Ponomarev’s comments promptly followed. Despite reports of “saboteurs” operating tanks and shelling the checkpoint in the town, Gladkov firmly denied the presence of any adversaries within the Belgorod region.

On Thursday morning, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, both comprised of defectors from the Russian armed forces and volunteers from Russia and Belarus, shared videos on their social media platforms asserting their proximity to or presence in Shebekino. These groups were established a few weeks after the initiation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In March, Russia’s Supreme Court classified the Legion as a terrorist organization. The Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), on the other hand, claims that its members consist of Russians who are actively engaged in combat against the Kremlin regime and fighting alongside Ukraine.

“They passed the checkpoint quite a while [ago] already. They fight for Shebekino itself,” Ponomarev, who represents the Freedom of Russia Legion and was the only member of the Russian parliament to vote against Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, told Newsweek.

According to Ponomarev, both the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps possess “heavy equipment,” which likely includes tanks. Ponomarev suggested that the Kremlin may have instructed Belgorod Governor Gladkov to deny the entry of these groups into Russian territory due to the negative media fallout experienced during a previous incident.

On May 22, both the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps achieved significant advancements, as mentioned by the former member of the Russian parliament. The Legion reported the capture of Kozinka village, while asserting that their units had also entered the small town of Graivoron.

During that time, Ponomarev disclosed that the Legion had successfully seized four BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, which are Russia’s primary armored vehicles. He further stated that the group’s objective is to “liberate Russia from Putinism.”

In a video shared on Thursday morning, a fighter from the Russian Volunteer Corps emphasized their current engagement on Russian soil. The video expressed the anticipation of approaching the outskirts of Shebekino in the near future. Regrettably, due to the Russian Federation’s military shelling of these areas, the evacuation of civilians from border regions has become challenging.

The video concluded by reassuring civilians to remain in their homes, stating that the soldiers of the Russian Volunteer Corps are not in conflict with the civilian population.

In a video message, the Legion announced their close proximity to the border of their homeland.

They expressed their imminent plans to embark on another advancement into Russian territory with the aim of bringing freedom, peace, and tranquility. The Legion emphasized their determination to liberate the entirety of Russia, stretching from Belgorod to Vladivostok, envisioning a future where the flag of freedom, represented by the white-blue-white colors, will proudly fly in Moscow.

The blue and white flag serves as the prominent symbol of the Legion and gained recognition during the anti-war protests that erupted after February 24, 2022.

Russian state-run news outlets reported that the operational headquarters in the Belgorod region refuted any claims of a “Ukrainian military breakthrough” near Shebekino. However, they acknowledged the occurrence of “shelling” and the audibility of “combat sounds.”

On Thursday, the region’s operational headquarters communicated through its Telegram channel, informing the public about a power outage in the town and the occurrence of damage to an administration building.

Governor Gladkov, in a video shared on Telegram, confirmed ongoing evacuations taking place in the area.

Source: Newsweek

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