Two military units comprised of volunteers in and out of russia, the Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, have started an operation in the Belgorod Oblast of russia with the aim of creating a "safe zone" near Ukraine's borders, said Spokesperson of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Andrii Yusov in a comment for Suspilne broadcaster.
He stressed that only citizens of the russian federation take part in the military operation as soldiers and explained the objective as "liberation of the Belgorod region from so-called Putin's regime and creating of a safe zone for protecting Ukrainian civilian population," Yusov said, as quoted by Suspilne.
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Currently, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine will refrain from commenting on the plan, he added, but "the task and desired result would be increased security and defending Ukrainian peaceful residents from terrorist attacks and shelling by terrorist units" by pushing the russian military units away from the Ukrainian state border.
On social media, the Liberty of Russia Legion reported seizing control of Kozinka village. The Legion describes itself as a "russian military unit recognized by the Armed Forces of Ukraine" that coordinates with the Ukrainian Army and is supervised by its command.
Belgorod Oblast's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on his socials about a "breakthrough of Ukrainian saboteurs" into the Grayvoronsky District. He said border guards, Rosgvardia and FSB were engaged in repelling the attack.
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