Pro-Ukrainian militias claim control of more Russian border villages

Pro-Ukrainian militias say they have taken control of the village of Gorkovsky in Russia's Belgorod region, the second target since the group launched a cross-border attack.

"The village of Gorkovsky in the Belgorod region is now under the control of Russian liberation forces," the militia group called the Russian Free Corps (FRL) announced on social media on March 17, adding that the operation was carried out with the support of "volunteers" from Chechnya.

FRL is a Russian group that opposes the Kremlin and supports Ukraine. Video posted by FRL shows its gunmen entering a building with a Russian flag hanging outside, taking a picture with their flag and then removing the Russian flag.

The Siberian Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia group that is participating in the operation with the FRL, said it was the headquarters of the Gorkovsky village administration. The same day, the group announced that it had raised the flag with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) in another Belgorod Oblast village, Kozinka, but did not say whether it had taken control of the area.

Pro-Ukrainian militias claim control of more Russian border villages — Pro-Ukrainian militiamen enter a building believed to be the Gorkovsky village administration headquarters in Belgorod on March 17. Video: *FRL*

The Russian Defense Ministry said its troops had "blocked all attempts to penetrate into the territory" in the area of the village of Kozinka, but did not mention the village of Gorkovsky.

Pro-Ukrainian militias crossed the Russian border with tanks and armored vehicles early last week and attacked the Kursk and Belgorod provinces. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled the incursions, calling the forces “terrorists” and blaming Ukraine.

Kiev denied it, saying the militia groups operate independently of the country's government.

On March 12, FRL announced that it had taken control of the village of Tetkino in Kursk province. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied the information and posted a video of its soldiers in the village of Tektinio to show that the situation there was normal.

The RVC said on March 14 that fighting was still ongoing between pro-Ukrainian armed groups and Russian troops inside the country. "Our units have advanced several kilometers in some directions, and in some places tens of kilometers," an RVC commander said.

FRL members at a base near the front line in Donetsk in March. Photo: Reuters — FRL members at a base near the front line in Donetsk in March. Photo: *Reuters*

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (GUR), said on March 16 that the FRL and other militias have been fighting in the "hottest spots" in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, adding that the GUR will try to support these forces "as much as possible", while still denying direct contact with them.

A member of the FRL said the militias' goal was to "move towards Moscow", adding that they chose to time the operation to coincide with the week of the Russian presidential election to "make a point" about the event.

Preliminary vote results released on March 17 showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin won this year's election and will continue to lead the country for the next 6 years.

Speaking after his victory, the Kremlin chief declared that Russia would never be threatened, adding that the election results would make the country stronger.