Putin Defectors Say They've Seized Belgorod Towns, Vow to 'Liberate Russia'

[Kennah]

Source: Newsweek

Russian fighters serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces say they have seized settlements in the Belgorod region, located near to the Ukrainian border.

The Freedom of Russia Legion—formed weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022—aims "to liberate Russia from Putinism," Ilya Ponomarev, an exiled Russian politician, who says he is political representative for the group of fighters, told Newsweek on Monday of the latest developments.

The Legion was declared a terrorist organization by Russia's Supreme Court in March. The group claimed on its social media channels on Monday that it had, alongside the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), "completely liberated" the settlement of Kozinka in Belgorod, and that its units had entered Graivoron.

Ponomarev, who was the only member of the Russian parliament to vote against Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014, told Newsweek that the legion and RVC had "liberated" both Kozinka and Graivoron.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/putin-defectors-freedom-russia-legion-ukraine-belgorod-war-1801786

---

Terrorist organization designation by the Russian Supreme Court is among the highest honors bestowed on forces fighting Putin.

[Lovie777]

1. K&R......

[niyad]

2. KNR

[marble falls]

3. To be clear: They've liberated Russian territory? This is where this whole thing goes critical mass

... I hope there are no Ukrainians directly involved.

[FredGarvin]

6. Russian held territory

Most likely they are involved.

Its a beautiful thing!

[marble falls]

8. Russian held Ukraine or Russia. Maps and explanations would've been helpful in the article.

[FredGarvin]

9. A Newsweek article

Always garbage.

Newsweek has become a conglomeration of AI selected social media posts.

A far cry from its print days

[orangecrush]

10. Welcome to DU

[Renew Deal]

11. My understanding is that this is Russian territory

Though Ukraine held it around the time of WW1

[marble falls]

12. I tried looking the area up but found nothing. Thanks.

[FredGarvin]

14. Use Google its on the internet.

;

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

16. What I found ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgorod

Belgorod is a city and the administrative center of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Seversky Donets River, approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) north of the border with Ukraine.

I was confused by the article as well. Mentioning the country Belgorod was in would have been useful.

[KS Toronado]

19. Per wikipedia

Not that big of a Russian town

Kozinka (Russian: Козинка is a rural locality (a selo) and the administrative center of Kozinskoye Rural Settlement, Grayvoronsky District, Belgorod Oblast, Russia. The population was 1,097 as of 2010

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozinka,_Belgorod_Oblast

Grayvoron is a little larger

Grayvoron (Russian: Гра́йворон is a town and the administrative center of Grayvoronsky District in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the shores of the Vorskla (a tributary of the Dnieper) and Grayvoronka Rivers. Population: 6.179? 2021 Census);[9] 6,234? 2010 Census)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayvoron

Don't know how the smiley faces got in there.

[IronLionZion]

17. Newsweek is the only one reporting it as if they took Russian territory

all other news outlets are reporting it as Russian saboteurs damaging targets in Russian territory near the border with Ukraine.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/22/europe/belgorod-ukrainian-forces-russian-territory-intl/index.html

For folks who don't know, Belgorod is in Russia. The people there are somewhat sympathetic to Ukraine and opposed to the war.

[Kennah]

20. They seem to make clear it's Russians in Russia

[marble falls]

22. Interesting phrase "seem to make clear." The Russians seem to feel Bakmud is Russian territory.

[Kennah]

23. Well, I don't believe there's been a roster published of who went on the operation

[Kennah]

21. Freedom of Russia Legion is TDF AFU

So long as it's Russians in Russia, then Russia can look at it as domestic terrorists. If there are Canadians with them, then Pooty Bear will start rattling his rattle. Ukrainian Special Forces have been operating in Russia.

[Leghorn21]

4. "Grain of salt", "fog of war" and all that but

HOT DAMN!!!

[Botany]

5. Russian regional governor says Ukrainian 'sabotage group' crossed border

"The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said on Monday that a Ukrainian 'sabotage group' had
entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district bordering Ukraine, and was being repelled by
Russian forces."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-regional-governor-says-ukrainian-sabotage-group-crossed-border/ar-AA1bwTH1

[FredGarvin]

7. Pro-Russian forces that are behind this attack

A lot of Russians have a lot of hate towards Putin

[IronLionZion]

18. Most likely it was Russian citizens who are sympathetic to Ukraine

rather than anyone crossing the border.

[SouthernDem4ever]

13. I wish them good luck

[BonnieJW]

15. And God speed