It has been suggested that this article be merged into 2023 Belgorod Oblast incursions . (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024. |
2024 Western Russia incursion | |||||||
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Part of the attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
A map of the incursion into Kursk Oblast by the Institute for the Study of War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russian opposition Ukraine (alleged by Russia, denied by Ukraine) | Russia | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Political leadership: Ilya Ponomarev Military leadership: Maximilian Andronnikov Denis Kapustin Vladislav Ammosov | |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Freedom of Russia Legion Russian Volunteer Corps Sibir Battalion Separate Special Purpose Battalion | National Guard | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Russian claim: 234 fighters killed on March 12 [2] | Unknown | ||||||
1 civilian wounded [3] |
On 12 March 2024, Ukrainian-backed Russian anti-government armed groups entered the territory of Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts in Russia from the territory of Ukraine. At least three groups, namely the Freedom of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps and Sibir Battalion participated in the incursion. They claimed control of the settlement of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast and Lozovaya Rudka in Belgorod Oblast. The Russian defence ministry denied this, claiming it had beaten back the attackers and forced them to retreat. [4] Ukrainian officials have denied involvement in the attacks.
Kursk Oblast was attacked by drones overnight, and shopping centres in Belgorod and schools in Kursk were closed on 14 March due to the attacks.
At 08:00 local time, the "WarGonzo" telegram channel of Russian milblogger Semyon Pegov reported that "armed groups in pickup trucks", supported by mortar and artillery fire, tried to break through the border in Belgorod Oblast. According to the channel, a breakthrough attempt was made from the village of Odnorobivka , Kharkiv Oblast; about 50 people were moving towards Belgorod Oblast. WarGonzo wrote that as a result of the battle, the armed groups retreated to their original positions, where they were "covered with long-range weapons." Pegov suggested that "most likely the terrorist units of the RDK and the Sibir Battalion acted". [5]
Soon, the Freedom of Russia Legion published a video that allegedly showed tanks crossing the border. A video of the battle was also published by the Sibir Battalion, which claims that "fierce fighting is taking place on the territory of the Russian Federation". The channel also posted a video calling for people not to participate in the 2024 Russian presidential election. Former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev, who lives in Ukraine, claimed that the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Sibir Battalion entered Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts "as part of a joint operation." [5]
The attackers said that they had taken over the villages of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast and Lozovaya Rudka in Belgorod Oblast. [6]
In the evening Russian authorities claimed that the attempts of sabotage groups to infiltrate Russian territory had been prevented. The Russian defence ministry published videos from Tyotkino and Nekhoteyevka, Belgorod Oblast. It also showed a destroyed Ukrainian tank at the border crossing near Nekhoteyevka. [7] [8]
The Freedom of Russia Legion urged civilians in Belgorod and Kursk to evacuate amid them being "forced to inflict fire damage on military positions in Belgorod and Kursk." They also reported to have destroyed a Russian control centre. [9]
In the morning the Legion published a video with "greetings from the liberated part of Tyotkino", announcing a raid deep into the village. However, analysis by Agentstvo showed that the footage was filmed in the Ukrainian border village of Ryzhivka , 300 meters from Tyotkino. A representative of the "Freedom of Russia" legion told Agentstvo that the video with the fighters was indeed recorded on the edge of Ryzhivka, even "before the storming of Tyotkino". According to his data, at the time the video was published, the military were already in Tyotkino, but he could not provide the video from there, explaining that he risked calling fire on the fighters. There was no independent confirmation that the Freedom of Russia Legion entered Tyotkino. [7] [10]
In Belgorod Oblast, Russian authorities alleged on Telegram that another attack was directed at Grayvoron, near the border with Ukraine, with an air raid warning being initiated, and civilians in the district apparently being evacuated. [11] Anti-Putin armed groups also staged another incursion into Kursk Oblast. [12] Shopping centres in Belgorod were closed due to shelling. [13] Additionally the ISW reported that several Russian milbloggers reported continued clashes in Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast as well as Kozinka and Spodaryushino in Belgorod Oblast. [14]
Russia's defense ministry claimed that the incursions into Belgorod Oblast from the previous day had been repelled. [15] Andriy Yusov, the press representative for the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, claimed that Kursk and Belgorod oblasts were now "active combat zones", stressing that the anti-Putin groups were acting independently and not directed by the Ukrainian government. [16] Infantry firefights continued to be reported in and around Sporadushino and Popovo-Lezhachi. Shortly after midday a rocket salvo hit Belgorod, striking civilian buildings and streets. [17]
The Russian telegram channel Baza reported that two people were wounded during the fighting, one of whom was a local resident. [5] On 12 March, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it had killed 234 attackers during the incursion. [2]
Ukrainian officials denied involvement in the attack. [6] According to Andriy Yusov, these formations "act absolutely autonomously, independently, and carry out their socio-political program tasks." [5] However, the Freedom of Russia Legion is reportedly part of the International Legion, a unit in the Territorial Defense Forces, the Ukrainian military reserve. [18]
President Vladimir Putin described the incursion as an attempt to "disrupt" the election and "interfere with the normal process of expressing the will of citizens." [19]
Russia's defence ministry said that the incursion attempts on Tyotkino as well as on the Belgorod Oblast settlements of Odnorobivka (a settlement sitting on the border located in the Ukrainian side), Nekhoteyevka and Spodaryushino were thwarted [6] resulting in the deaths of 234 attackers. [20] Schools in Kursk were ordered to shift to remote learning for the rest of the week, [21] [22] while a missile alert was declared in the city. [6]
On 12 March, the Russian military operational headquarters of Kursk Oblast banned the publication and distribution of content showing Russian military personnel, artillery strikes, air defenses, and drones strikes in an effort to protect operations security in the region. [23]
On 14 March, the ISW noted an increase in anti-government discontent in the military's handling of the incursions, similar to the discontent expressed by the ultra-nationalist opposition, such as Igor Girkin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, during the 2023 Belgorod Oblast raids. However, these critiques are far less likely to proliferate through the general Russian public, as the Russian government has taken a concerted effort to take control of the Telegram info-space to censor anti-government opinions following the Wagner Group rebellion. However, the ISW concluded that the Russian government must soon make a decision to either reallocate military resources to Kursk and Belgorod, or pay a "reputation cost" among the ultra-nationalists. [14]
Belgorod is a city that is the administrative center of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Seversky Donets River, approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) north of the border with Ukraine. It has a population of 339,978 (2021 Census).
Shebekino is a town in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Nezhegol River, 30 kilometers (19 mi) southeast of Belgorod. Population: 39,680 (2021 Census); 44,277 (2010 Census); 45,119 (2002 Census); 44,552 (1989 Census). It is the administrative center, though not part of, Shebekinsky District.
Belovsky District is an administrative and municipal district (raion), one of the twenty-eight in Kursk Oblast, Russia. It is located in the south of the oblast. The area of the district is 950 square kilometers (370 sq mi). Its administrative center is the rural locality of Belaya. Population: 14,659 (2021 Census); 17,933 (2010 Census); 22,182 ; 25,968 (1989 Census). The population of Belaya accounts for 14.5% of the district's total population.
Tyotkino is an urban locality on the left bank of the Seym river in Glushkovsky District of Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 3,852 (2021 Census); 4,223 (2010 Census); 5,224 (2002 Census); 5,375 (1989 Census).
Gora-Podol is a rural locality and the administrative center of Gora-Podolskoye Rural Settlement, Grayvoronsky District, Belgorod Oblast, Russia. The population was 1,862 as of 2010. There are 28 streets.
Klyukvinsky is a rural locality in Lebyazhensky Selsoviet Rural Settlement, Kursky District, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 90 (2010 Census); 84 (2002 Census);
Novosyolovsky is a rural locality in Lebyazhensky Selsoviet Rural Settlement, Kursky District, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 103 (2010 Census); 130 (2002 Census);
Bolshoye Shumakovo is a rural locality and the administrative center of Shumakovsky Selsoviet Rural Settlement, Kursky District, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 785 (2010 Census); 816 (2002 Census);
Kutepova is a rural locality in Besedinsky Selsoviet Rural Settlement, Kursky District, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 53 (2010 Census); 58 (2002 Census);
Podlesny is a rural locality in Klyukvinsky Selsoviet Rural Settlement, Kursky District, Kursk Oblast, Russia. Population: 609 (2010 Census); 623 (2002 Census);
The Freedom of Russia Legion, also called the Free Russia Legion, is a Ukrainian-based paramilitary unit of Russian citizens, which opposes the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin and its invasion of Ukraine. It was formed in March 2022 and is reportedly part of Ukraine's International Legion. It consists of defectors from the Russian Armed Forces, and other Russian volunteers, some of whom had emigrated to Ukraine. It is one of several such units participating in the Russo-Ukrainian War on behalf of Ukraine.
Attacks in mainland Russia—primarily in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts—have been reported since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022. Russia accused Ukraine of being responsible for these attacks.
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The Russian Volunteer Corps is a far-right paramilitary unit of Russian citizens, based in Ukraine. It was formed in August 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to fight against the government of Vladimir Putin. The group reportedly consists of Russian emigrants who are primarily united by their opposition to Putin. According to Ukrainian military officials, the group is not a part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Assessments of the ideology of this group vary from far-right and white nationalist to neo-Nazi. Its leader is reportedly Denis Kapustin, a Neo-Nazi who in 2019 was banned from the Schengen Area.
On 2 March 2023, the Russian authorities said that an armed Ukrainian group crossed the border and attacked the villages of Lyubechane and Sushany in Bryansk Oblast. Russia said the attackers fired on a car, killing two civilians, before the Federal Security Service forced them back into Ukraine. The raid was claimed by the Russian Volunteer Corps; a paramilitary group of Russian citizens, based in Ukraine, which opposes the Russian regime of Vladimir Putin. Russia called the incident a terrorist attack, and said its 9 March missile strikes on Ukraine were retaliation. Ukraine's government denied involvement; it said the incident could have been a false-flag attack by Russia to justify its ongoing war against Ukraine, or else an attack by anti-government partisans from within Russia.
On 22 May 2023, armed groups from Ukraine carried out a cross-border raid into Belgorod Oblast, Russia. Two Russian rebel groups allied with and based in Ukraine—the Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC)—claimed to have taken control of several border settlements, and clashed with Russian government forces. The Polish Volunteer Corps participated in the raid. Russian authorities said the attacks were conducted by a Ukrainian "sabotage group", and imposed counter-terrorism measures in the region. It is the largest cross-border attack during the war since the initial beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
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The Sibir Battalion is a paramilitary group made up of Russian citizens opposed to the Putin administration. Members of this unit include Russians, Yakuts, and Buryats, who see Ukraine's victory as an opportunity to gain independence or wide autonomy from Russia. Before signing a contract, citizens of the Russian Federation undergo a thorough inspection, which can last up to a year. The battalion does not recruit captured Russian soldiers. The unit fought in the Battle of Avdiivka. On 12 March 2024, the unit participated in a raid into the Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia alongside the Freedom of Russia Legion.
This timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers the period from 1 December 2023 to the present day.
Lozovaya Rudka is a rural settlement (khutor) in Borisovsky District in Belgorod Oblast of western Russia, at some hundred metres northwards of the Ukrainian border.