In one of the largest incursions from Ukrainian soil since the war began 15 months ago, two suspected anti-Kremlin armed groups that lure Russians living abroad said they were responsible for the attack, according to Reuters.
In different readings, military experts presented “Sky News Arabia” with several accounts of the affiliation of the two groups, and was their attack a response to Russia’s control over the city of Bakhmut? And what is its purpose?
The result of the attack
In the latest report, the Russian military said on Wednesday that:
A drone was shot down over Belgorod. The terrorist group threw an explosive device at a highway. One civilian was killed and 13 injured. Eliminate over 70 attackers. The infiltration group fired mortars at buildings and residents.
What are these organizations?
A group calling itself the “Russian Freedom Corps” claimed responsibility for the infiltration, but Kyiv denied involvement in the attack.
In a video clip broadcast by a Telegram channel claiming to represent the group, a spokesman surrounded by armed men in military uniform said that “Russia will become free” and “a Russian mechanized company has been disarmed and armored vehicles destroyed at Belgorod”.
The group added on Twitter that it had “completely liberated” the border town of Kozynka, and “our forward units have reached the town of Greyvoron”.
The organization regularly posts propaganda videos on Telegram, Twitter and Instagram, and claims to have received thousands of volunteer requests.
As for the “Russian Volunteer Corps”, he said in a tweet on Tuesday that: “One day we will come to stay”.
“Putin’s forces have not achieved any success. We will advance towards our goal. The complete liberation of Russia,” he added.
And last March, Moscow classified the “Russian Freedom Corps” as a “terrorist” group, which prohibits its activities and exposes its members and sympathizers to sentences of up to life imprisonment.
According to information published by Agence France-Presse, the “Russian Freedom Corps”:
Founded with the start of the war. It is a battalion of international volunteers fighting alongside the Ukrainian army. Its logo represents a fist bearing the words “Russia and Freedom”. The legion includes “several hundred” Russian volunteers. The fighters underwent interviews and psychological tests. Their number is secret. They follow the artillery under the command of Ukrainian officers.
Conflicting accounts
The Russian and Ukrainian sides presented conflicting accounts of the two organizations, and who is behind them, and traded accusations as to whether they were Ukrainian or Russian groups?
According to Ukrainian officials, the Belgorod bombings were carried out by:
Two “Russian Freedom” groups and the “Russian Volunteer” Corps to create a “safe zone to protect Ukrainian civilians”, according to Ukrainian intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov. “Behind these attacks are Russian citizens who are fed up with Putin’s regime,” said Yuryk Sak, adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister. Sack admitted he could neither confirm nor deny whether his country harbors or supports the groups involved.
On the other hand, Moscow indicated that these organizations are made up of Russian far-right militants led by the Ukrainian intelligence services, and announced the activation of the “anti-terrorist legal system”.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said the purpose of the attack was to divert attention from Russia’s control of the city of Bakhmut. As for the governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, he said that a civilian had been killed by the Ukrainian armed forces, that a drone had been shot down and that terrorists had thrown a bomb on the public road. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the defeat of the Kyiv regime in Bakhmut turned it into terrorist acts against the population. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said the Kiev exiles were “lies” and the attackers deserved “extermination”.
Different expert readings
Ukrainian military expert Oleh Danilov says both corps “are participating in the war, but their influence is limited due to their small numbers.”
Their importance is political and it is difficult to know exactly who they are and their motivations. They present themselves as “right-wing nationalists”. To talk about Ukraine supporting them is to mislead the Kremlin about the opposition of some Russians to the war against Ukraine.
As for the American military and strategic expert, Peter Alex, he says:
These are groups operating on Russian territory and their roots are Russian, according to their advertisements. Ukraine distances itself from any action taking place within Russian borders. It may be linked to Ukraine, but it is likely – as these organizations have announced – that it reflects the pulse of the Russian street and opposes Kremlin policy. Belgorod is an ideal administrative base for training and launching the Russian army, strengthening its supply system, its proximity to the city of Kharkiv, its transport network and the roads connecting it to Crimea, which makes it an ideal area for attacks. If Ukraine is behind these groups, it will not admit it.
As for the former Russian academic and diplomat, Vyacheslav Matuzov, he says that these are specially trained groups that were sent from Kyiv and follow the Ukrainian intelligence services.
The attack was a suicide attack, and the group destroyed tanks and vehicles and destroyed public and private property. This is a sabotage and reconnaissance group to infiltrate Russian cities to test Russian military capabilities in those areas.
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