A recent incursion by Russian opponents of the Kremlin from Ukraine has spurred urgent calls for evacuation in key Russian regions, as reported by the Russian Volunteer Corps on Telegram.
The rebel group issued a plea on the messaging platform, urging residents of Kursk and Belgorod regions to evacuate immediately due to ongoing shelling in Ukraine and escalating tensions along the border.
“We again appeal to the residents of Kursk and Belgorod regions! Your leadership has not taken any measures to protect or evacuate you, and the shelling of peaceful cities and villages in Ukraine continues as before! We are forced to return fire at military targets in the border regions! Evacuate immediately!” the Russian Volunteer Corps wrote on Telegram.
The incursion, orchestrated by armed opponents of the Kremlin based in Ukraine, has unsettled a border region just days before Russia’s presidential election.
This development has cast doubts on President Vladimir Putin’s narrative that life within Russia remains unaffected by the ongoing conflict, although he is expected to secure another six-year term in the upcoming elections after sidelining opposition forces.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Moscow’s military and security forces successfully repelled the incursion, eliminating 234 fighters in the process.
The ministry attributed the attack to the “Kyiv regime” and “Ukraine’s terrorist formations,” emphasising that Russian military and border forces effectively thwarted the assailants, preventing a cross-border raid. Additionally, the ministry reported the destruction of seven tanks and five armoured vehicles belonging to the attackers.
However, soldiers identified by Kyiv officials as Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine claim to have breached the border.
The Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion released statements and videos on social media purportedly showcasing their presence on Russian territory. Their objective, as stated, is to liberate Russia from what they describe as “Putin’s dictatorship”.
