Adopting the Kremlin’s euphemism, Russian rebel battalions launched a 10-day ‘special liberation operation from Putin’ in Russia’s Belgorod oblast and Kursk oblast, claiming they had seized villages, destroyed equipment and diverted Russian troops from the front.
The eleventh day has passed since the Russian anti-Kremlin volunteers began their operation in the Russian regions bordering Ukraine.
The fighting in Russia has violated one of Vladimir Putin’s red lines, but there have been no consequences.
The Free Russian Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps and newly formed Siberian Battalion who fight alongside Ukraine against Russian invaders have claimed that their combined operation has thwarted an offensive by Russia on Ukraine.
The anti-Kremlin fighters have conducted two previous raids on Russian soil. Their first raids took place in March 2023 and May 2023. The volunteer fighters are now calling on all Russians join their ranks in order to fight against Putin’s regime. Here’s how the events unfolded.
Take the fight to Russia
On 12 March, three battalions announced that they had begun their joint operation “to bring freedom and justice to Russian Land”. The battalions reported that they had taken control of Lozovaya Rudka, a border village in the Belgorod Oblast.
They soon claimed control of Tyotkino in the Kursk Oblast. They reported that they had destroyed an ammunition depot in the area.
On 17 March, it was reported that the fighting had spread to Belgorod Oblast.
The Siberian Battalion reported that it had taken control of the settlement at Gorkovsky in conjunction with volunteer units from Chechnya who were fighting on the side Ukraine.
The battalions have repeatedly urged residents to evacuate the Belgorod oblast and Kursk oblast as they “were forced to strike at military locations located in the cities Belgorod or Kursk.”
The anti-Kremlin Battalions are also reported to be raising their flags above Kozinka, Belgorod Oblast.
Denis Nikitin (commander of the Russia Volunteer Corps) stated at a press event of the Russian armed volunteers battalions that the insurgents, while currently controlling only two villages, do not intend to gain a vast territorial control as they “soberly assess” the size of their force and are not strong to capture and hold district centers.
He did, however, point out that, one year ago during the operation in Bryansk Oblast the rebels were only able to stay on Russian soil for a few hours, while now their operations can last for days and they destroy Russian army soldiers as well as control regions.
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Nikitin said that it was pointless to hold on to the ruins after the Russian army had destroyed them. The Russian rebels use “classic” partisan techniques against a numerically stronger enemy, including lightning-fast movements, unexpected strikes and the need to avoid harming civilians.
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Damage reported to the Russian Federation
On 18 March, anti-Putin fighters published a list of damage caused to the Russian troops. They claimed that they had destroyed 130 pieces of equipment. Destroyed equipment
* 7 tanks (including 3 T-72 and 1 T-72BZ).
* 20 infantry fighting vehicle (including BMP-2 and BMP-3).
* 6 D-30 howitzers
* 4 armored Personnel Carriers
* 4 mortars
* 2 MT-12 “Rapira”
* 2 2S19 “Msta-S”
* 2 ZALA UAVs
* 1 BM 21 “Grad
* 1 SPG
* 1 “Murom complex”
* 1 Electronic Warfare Station
* 1 Repeater
* 2 units of armored vehicles equipment
* 2 units of engineering machinery (excavators).
* 57 units of different automotive equipment (heavy & light)
Disabled equipment
* 1 T-80PVM tank
* 1 T-72 tank
* 1 infantry fighting Vehicle
* 1 BM 21 “Grad
* 2 MT-LB
* 1 Msta-B
* 1 TOS-2
* 1 BM 21 “Grad
* 1 2S1 “Gvozdika”
* 1 Electronic Warfare Station
* 1 armored car
* 20 units of different automotive equipment (heavy & light)
The Free Russia Legion stated that “the biggest damage was done to Putin’s image as a person who can supposedly keep the situation under control in the country.” During a press conference on 21 March, representatives of the battalions stated that the Russian manpower loss was:
* 651 irreversible losses
* 908 sanitary loss (wounded soldiers).
* 37 taken captive.
“They (Russian commanders – Ed.) “They (Russian military commanders – ed.)”
During a press conference, representatives of the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps as well as the Siberian Battalion stated that their “special liberation of Russia from Putin operation” continues.
The current task does not consist of keeping certain settlements under control in Russia, but rather to conduct guerrilla warfare and “push the enemy away from the Ukrainian border.”
Does Ukraine help and what weapons are used by the anti-Kremlin Battalions?
Andrii Yusov from Ukraine’s Military Intelligence told RFE/RL the Russian Freedom Legion (also known as the Russian Volunteer Corps), the Siberian Battalion, and the Russian Volunteer Corps are all units made up of citizens of the Russian Federation.
Yusov reminded that the Russian anti-Kremlin Battalions, while they are fully-fledged units in the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Russian soil, act completely independently and autonomously, pursuing their socio-political agenda.
Yusov later said that the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine assists the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Russian Freedom Legion during their operations in Russia. He acknowledged that Ukraine’s Intelligence helps the Russian rebels as it is Ukraine’s responsibility, since these people are helping liberate Ukraine from its occupiers.
Yusov stated that “they are acting bravely and heroically on many frontlines, taking part in serious operations.”
Denis Nikitin said that the Russian Volunteer Corps commander, Denis Nikitin spoke at a press briefing on Thursday 21 March, that the anti-Kremlin forces rely on Ukrainian logistical support in their operations on Russian territory. For example, to evacuate their injured.
“In general, the entire military structure of our unit is connected with the military infrastructure of Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Nikitin continued, “We receive, of course, the necessary support from Ukrainian side in order to fulfill our combat mission on the territory Russian Federation.”
What weapons are they using?
Aleksey Baranovsky – a fighter from the Russian Freedom Legion – avoided a direct response during the press conference. According to him, Russian volunteers fighting on Ukrainian soil are Ukrainian Army servicemen and can use the weapons and equipment they have attached to them.
Baranovsky says that the arms are “double-trophies” and were originally taken by Russian troops as trophies, but then returned to the Ukrainian Army as trophies.
“We also have various Ukrainian made equipment at our disposal.” We operate as a fully-fledged Ukrainian army on the Ukrainian territory and as rebels, a guerrilla force, when we travel to Russia,” he said.
Nikitin’s troll reminded us that we must not forget about the “voentorgs,” or the proverbial “military stores” where Russian proxy forces in eastern Ukraine claimed they got the Russian tanks used to fight Ukraine during 2014.
“As you may know, since 2014 it is possible to purchase small arms, tanks and multiple rocket launchers at a modern military shop. If you have the chance, and we’re fortunate enough to be able to do so, you can purchase any small arms. We certainly take advantage of that,” Nikitin jokingly said, adding, however, that most of our equipment is trophy Russian gear.
This tacitly implies Ukraine could be blessing weapons that the volunteers use on Russian territory, as “voentorg”, a joking term, was used to hide Russia’s covert delivery of military equipment to their proxy “republics” (in eastern Ukraine).
The purpose of the anti-Putin fighters raid into Russia
“We were able open a secondfront. […] The theater of military operations now includes not only the Ukraine but also the Russian Federation. We were able to reduce the pressure on the Kremlin military machine by extending the front line in this way.
Bloomberg’s source confirms Nikitin’s claim, stating that the attacks force the Kremlin into diverting forces away from the frontline of Ukraine.
Aleksey Baranovsky of the Free Russia Legion claimed that the special operations of Russian volunteers in Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts of Russian Federation helped to disrupt a new offensive of the Russian occupiers against Ukraine.
Baranovsky said that the Russian troops wanted a new offensive to be conducted before the so-called Russian Presidential elections on 17th March.
“Our operation disrupted this plan. In a military sense they were forced into transferring significant forces from the vicinity of Kupiansk in order to hold the Belgorod oblast and Kursk oblast. Baranovsky stated that we had disrupted the offensive plan of the Russian Army.
The volunteer fighter noted that the raids in the Belgorod oblast and Kursk oblast helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine stabilise the front.
“We diverted tactical aircraft to ourselves. It delivered more than 320 strikes, and all the bombs reached the territory of Russia.” “Our operation allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to stabilize the front, and cover areas where a massive Russian attack was expected,” he concluded.
Russian opposition focuses on armed struggle
Denis Nikitin of the Free Russia Corps, who shared in 2023 with Euromaidan Press that he did not believe any peaceful methods used by the Russian opposition would lead to a change in Russia, now observes a change in their position after the third year of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Thank God, they have begun to change their position and realize that round tables and forums, signature collections and paper cups are not enough to move an eastern despotism such as Putin’s regime,” Nikitin said during the press conference for the volunteer fighters.
The death of Aleksei Nailny, an opposition politician, in prison was announced by Russian authorities a month ago. This led to a widespread disillusionment on the part of Russians regarding the possibility of changing Russia’s leadership through democratic methods.
Nikitin believes all efforts by the non-systemic resistance should be directed at supporting the fighting Russian volunteers. “We are the spearhead of the attack, and we serve as the spearhead which must penetrate the heart and soul of Putin’s regime, and possibly the heart and soul of Russia itself,” Nikitin declared.
Nikitin is against any empty statements or actions that don’t lead to the actual strengthening their units. He says that “there are no other struggles than armed ones.”
He observes that many representatives of the systemic resistance acknowledge this fact.
“If they do not want to participate in this war under the same conditions of armed conflict, they should support the Russian Volunteer Corps.” Nikitin concluded that they should not refer to themselves as the Russian opposition if they are not ready to fight in the same way.
Days before the press event, Russian opposition figures expressed support for the armed battalions in the first Forum of Support for Russian Volunteers.
In a memorandum signed by personalities like human rights lawyer Mark Feygin and political activist Garry Kasparov as well as environmentalist Yevgeniya Chirkova, they urged all anti-Kremlin Russians either to join or support Russian Volunteer Corps, Free Russia Legion and Siberian Battalion.
* Anti-Kremlin Battalions Announce Offensive Operation Inside Russia Against Putin’s Regime
* Ex-Wagners join Russian volunteer forces to fight for Ukraine on Russian territory
Freedom of Russia claims to have taken control of Tyotkino, in Kursk Oblast
* Anti-Kremlin Siberian Battalion claims it has entered village and captured local administration in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast
* Russian Volunteer Corps fights to dismantle Putin’s regime and for Ukraine (2023)
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