Russian partisans back in Belgorod Oblast, declare second phase of operation in Russia
RDK fighters claim to be fighting again within Russian territory.
"The second phase promised by the RDK Commander has begun!" their representative said in the accompanying video.
Meanwhile, videos began circulating on social media of an administration building on fire in Shebekino, a town in the south of Belgorod Oblast located about 6 kilometers from Russia’s border with Ukraine.
There were also reports on social media of the sounds of heavy fighting being heard in the region, and that a Russian 2S4 Tyulpan 240mm self-propelled mortar and supply truck had been destroyed by Ukrainian/Pro-Ukrainian Russian forces in the vicinity of Shebekino.
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The Russian Defense Ministry later claimed that all of the “saboteurs” were driven back, no border violations were permitted, and more than 30 "Ukrainian terrorists" had been killed. The ministry gave no evidence to back up its claims, with are impossible to verify.
In its message, the militants called on residents of Belgorod Oblast to stay in their homes or go to shelters.
"The RDK has not fought and is not fighting against civilians," the unit said.
The Freedom of Russia legion announced on May 22 that, together with the RDK, it had "completely liberated" the village of Kozinka in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, passed the village of Gora-Podol, and began to storm the settlement of Grayvoron.
Local authorities declared a "counterterrorist operation" and evacuated most Grayvoron residents, said the governor.
Read also: Moscow is next, says Russian partisans who raided Belgorod Oblast
Russians claimed to have killed most of the saboteurs and "pushed the rest back" to the territory of Ukraine. RDK and Legion fighters denied the losses.
The RDK and Legion reported that they had advanced 42 kilometers into Russia and controlled some settlements in Belgorod Oblast for a day. They claim to have lost two people in action, with ten wounded.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine called the actions of the Legion and the RDK in Belgorod Oblast of Russia "the establishment of a security strip" to protect Ukrainians. Andriy Yusov emphasized that the raid in the Russian region was carried out exclusively by Legion and RDK fighters, who are Russian citizens.
Read also: Russian insurgents publish new video of their Belgorod Oblast raid
Mykhailo Podolyak, a Presidential Office advisor, also confirmed that Ukraine had nothing to do with the actions of the RDK and Legion in Belgorod Oblast.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
