Russia uses conscripts to defend its border with Ukraine against limited incursions ahead of the Russian presidential election, the Institute for the Study of War said in its new report.
Earlier, the battalions of the Freedom of Russia legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion reported that they had entered the border territory of Russia to liberate Russia from the “criminal dictatorial regime in the Russian Federation.”
Russian sources initially denied reports of the incursion but later claimed that Russian forces repelled Russian pro-Ukrainian forces with tank, armored vehicle, and drone support attacking near Odnorobivka in Kharkiv Oblast and Nekhoteevka and Spodaryushino in Belgorod Oblast.
According to the US-based think tank, Russia's decision to engage conscripts to defend its border is related to Russia’s unwillingness to transfer forces away from the frontline elsewhere in Ukraine.
Before the start of the offensive, the military volunteers published an address saying, “The Legion is coming to the Putin elections.”
“The criminal dictatorial regime in the Russian Federation could not be overthrown peacefully. It can only be removed by force of arms. Tonight, we began fulfilling that promise. Fierce battles are underway on Russian territory,” they added.
Read also:
- Anti-Kremlin battalions announce offensive operation inside Russia against Putin’s regime
- Freedom of Russia claims it took control of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast
Read Also
-
Kyiv stockpiles food and water as Russia’s new aerial tactics threaten a brutal winter
-
Russia’s FM says war must end so there is “no more Nazism” in Europe. Russian occupation official already said what that means: erasing Ukraine and stopping its aid
-
Russia deploys missile brigade to Belarus as fears grow over new threat to Kyiv
