Russian partisans confront army in southwest Russia amid election tensions
The focal point of the skirmishes between Russian volunteers and Vladimir Putin's forces is the town of Tiotkino in the Kursk region, according to Baranovsky.
14 March 2024 09:31
"The currently unstable situation is also extending to neighbouring towns, not only in the Kursk region but also in the Belgorod region," he stated. "In five towns, there are ongoing conflicts between the volunteers and the regular army," he added.
Baranovsky mentioned that the current activities of Russian volunteers are linked to the forthcoming so-called presidential elections in Russia.
"As concerned Russian citizens, we chose this method to express our political will and our stance towards these elections and Vladimir Putin's regime. We're ready to start, especially because the elections are about to begin," he shared.
On Wednesday, Russian volunteers siding with Ukraine declared strikes on Russian military positions in two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border - Kursk and Belgorod - advising residents to evacuate these areas.
On March 12, factions of the Legion "Freedom of Russia," the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion entered the Belgorod and Kursk regions in Russia. Following this, the Legion "Freedom of Russia" reported that Tiotkino in the Kursk region was entirely under the control of Russian volunteers, with Russian units rapidly retreating from the area.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that it had "repelled" this assault. The Belgorod region officials reported that during the confrontation, one territorial defence soldier was killed, and ten civilians were wounded.
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