Ukrainian Cross-Border Raids into Belgorod and Kursk, Russia in March 2024
Final update...for now
We remind our readers that cross-border raids are a criminal activity and could subject person(s) to charges of spying and treason which carry a death sentence if found guilty. Do not take up arms against your country as it is illegal and likely bad for your health.
Since we last updated this page on Friday, Moscow was hit by a significant terror attack on a music venue that has killed 143 "entirely innocent civilians," according to the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council. We condemn that attack and our condolences go out to the families affected by this terrorist attack.
There has been no news coverage on continuing ground operations (or rowdy Russian vacationers) in either Belgorod or Kursk in our open-source news sources. No news of any kind. We do not have access to Telegram channels and other 'private' means of communication, only published and web-based news agencies. We also look at Twitter, but see nothing new or current on this topic. The only news is of the Armed Forces of Ukrainian (AFU) attacking Belgorod with missiles and drones.
Therefore, based on no news...we are closing this topic.
Russia: "We are in a state of war," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, March 22, 2024. "Yes, it started as a special military operation, but as soon as this bunch was formed there, when the collective West became a participant on Ukraine's side, for us it already became a war," Peskov said.
Russia: More internal security & control
From the Russian media, Tass reported yesterday that checkpoints and roadblocks are being set up around seven villages and residents are being checked before being allowed to return to their residential areas. Free food kits, and utilities, will be provided to Belgorod residents in over a dozen settlements. TASS reports in their 'emergency' section that a Belgorod woman was killed by a Ukrainian air-strike while walking her two dogs. One dog survived. They suggest the attacks on Belgorod are being conducted by Ukrainian military units via aircraft and artillery, not cross-border raids or ground troops. The news is supplemented by global stories regarding the U.S.A., France and Hungary. Russia's economy and monetary policy seem more important. Russia held their key rate steady at 16% and are working to return inflation to target (4%) while the economy sees domestic demand outstripping goods and services production, and the return of labor market tightness (TASS Article Here).
The BBC, CNN, Reuters and the Associated Press are silent on Belgorod today.
The Kyiv Post here is sharing unsubstantiated rumors and social media posts that discuss the use of gravity bombs from Russian airplanes, local law enforcement roadblocks, and suggestions the region of Belgorod is being evacuated and Russian military troops are being moved into the area.
"Governor Gladkov announced the restriction of entry starting March 20 in seven settlements: Kozinka, Glotovo, Gora-Podol, Novostroevka-pervaya, Novostroevka-vtoraya, Bezymeno, and Grayvoron city, with roadblocks positioned at the entrances."
The topic of evacuations has shifted from keeping people in-place to now supporting their evacuation.
Finally, the Kyiv Post reported that seven people connected with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) were arrested in Moscow, Russia by the Federal Security Services (FSB) in an apartment. They were overheard discussing treasonous plans of violence, and were found with a cache of weapons. This is far from Belgorod, and would likely have led to the murder of innocents. Remember that treason is extremely harmful to your health.
Special Reconnaissance Groups
Russian Federation Leadership Names The Cross-Border Raiders: Special Reconnaissance Groups, and Russian Senate Speaker suggests they are coordinated by the U.K., the U.S. and NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked the Federal Security Services, or FSB, to identify, apprehend and punish Russian citizens (traitors) participating in these attacks, without regards to the statutes of limitations.
We read that Belgorod will evacuate 9,000 children from the region, and Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to the United Russia Party: "today, we are resettling a large number of villages...planning to remove 9,000 children from Belgorod and several districts in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 19, 2024 in TASS stated that all infiltration attempts by subversive gangs, comprising retular enemy troops and foreign mercenaries, have failed.
Going a step further on March 20, 2024, Russian Federation Council (Senate) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, suggests that it is the Ukrainian army attacking Russian cities and civilians, and that those attacks are "being coordinated by the UK, the US and NATO." In a dramatic fashion, Speaker Matviyenko "would like to make a deep bow" before the residents of Russia’s borderline Belgorod Region and say a huge thank you for their courage and valor.
On March 19, 2024, in TASS, Russian President vladimir Putin discussed the attempted breaches into Russian territory, carried out by "Special Reconnaissance Groups." This is a new term (translated by TASS into English).
Ukrainian Support as this group becomes a force
1: The town of Gorkovsky Village, Belgorod, Russia, is under the control of the Siberian Battalion, according to Brendan Cole, Newsweek, written March 18, 2024. Siberian Battalion troops are attacking in Kozinka as well. This area is interesting because it is 10 miles from Belgorod 22, a decommissioned nuclear weapons storage site, formally known as Military Unit 25624, 12 Chief Directorate, Tom Clancy & Vince Flynn Armies.
Of note in this article is the following quote: Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, said Saturday March 16, 2024 that Ukraine would help anti-Kremlin militias in their operations on Russian territory. They were no longer considered a "grouping", but were now "becoming a force." and "evolving from merely being groups to becoming a formidable force." (two different translations)
2: The Freedom of Russia Legion provided a list of Russian Federation Army losses in Kursk and Belgorod regions, which included military personnel and equipment captured and/or destroyed. This was mentioned by an RBC Ukraine article on March 18, 2024 by Liliana Oleniak. There was a damaged bridge in Gorky and a a tank struck in the village of Zamostye, Russia.
3. The Chechen Connection: In an AI story by Ella Bennet on March 18, 2024, the attack on Gorkovsky settlement was supported by volunteers from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The original source in the Kyiv Independent, by Sonya Bandouil and Dmytro Basmat, is linked in the button below
Russian media quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying Putin had been receiving military reports in recent days of attempted attacks by saboteurs in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk, including several incursion attempts overnight, all of which he was quoted as saying were thwarted.
Otherwise, the 'official' social media news outlets are quiet, almost silent, on the war against Ukraine.
CNN — All schools and colleges in parts of the Russian region of Belgorod will be closed on Monday and Tuesday following an increase in Ukrainian attacks on the territory, the region’s governor has announced.
CNN -- Russia's military response on Saturday was large and complex against a concentrated invasion force.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a post on its own Telegram channel Saturday that Russian forces had repelled attempts by Ukraine fighters to infiltrate Russia in several locations, saying it had carried out “a complex fire attack on concentrations of enemy manpower and equipment.”
Belgorod is between 25 and 50 miles from the border of Ukraine and is surrounded on two sides by Ukraine, to the West and South.
Kursk is 50 - 80 miles away from Ukraine, and has Ukrainian border to its West.
Three groups were mentioned by the BBC:
Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK)
Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) - active in the border village of Tetkino in the Kursk region. Kursk Mayor Igor Kutsak reacted to the recent events by moving to remote learning.
Siberian Battalion (SB)
Here is a specific piece of news: BBC: "Ukraine-based Russian opposition politician Illya Ponomarev claimed that the border village of Lozovaya Rudka, Belgorod region, was "under full control of liberating forces"."
That report also suggested that Russia used aircraft, milliles, and artillery in a military response to the incursion, meaning this is not seen as a criminal matter, but a military one.
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