Lets not deflect. You're calling another poster "comrade", the intent being obvious, for simply stating that these events may not go down well with western backers of Ukraine. It was a completely neutral statement and one that holds potential weight, unless you have information the rest of us don't have? You're shutting down discussion and there is no need for it.
Gotta love the Russian apologist response on here.
Not a squeak out of them while Russia murders POWs and lands cruise missiles in creches. But when the Belgorod Peoples Republic ☺️ kicks up a fuss in sacred Russian territory then the tantrums begin.
It's legitimately gratifying to see. Long may it continue.
We know Russia is buying Iranian drones and missiles, thats no secret
The US selling HMMWVs and MRAPs to Russian separatists is news to me though, unless of course they gave those to Ukraine who passed it on.
Either way its clearly US equipment used, both in those videos posted by the separatists and in drone videos monitoring the attacks in Belgorod.
Ah will you go away with that shite. They're making a fair and reasonable point, the comrade nonsense is silly. If you weren't so blinded by your extremisms, you might be capable of seeing real intentions here.
And here's more of it, right down the other end:
100%. They're probing for weaknesses. Feinting. Observing reactions. Forcing the Russians to expand their universe of worries. Forcing them to redeploy reserves elsewhere along this massive front.
In this case they had a poke and it turned out to be made of papier-mâché. That's basically a bonus and very helpful info.
In my view the Belgorod attack is just another element of Ukrainian shaping operations in preparation for the counteroffensive; its aims being to draw Russian forces in to protect their borders and to spread fear and uncertainty in Russia. It's hard to believe that this action wouldn't at least have got a blessing from Ukraine if not actually directed by Ukrainian military. If this is the case then I'm sure the Americans would be fully informed. Ukraine attributing this to Russians allows the Ukrainians to distance themselves from activities and avoid controversy with NATO members who (at least publicly) might be squeamish about conflict on Russian soil.
They are not Russians rising up in Moscow or the Urals or Yakutsk, they crossed the border from Ukraine using equipment from Ukraine and even dressing like the AFU (yellow bands). If it walks like a duck...
Its the same as the DPR and LPR militias as just part of the russian army, but by another name.
Sky news take on things. Not Ukrainians but Russians , the leader of one of the groups is a Neo Nazi according to sky news
Who are the groups supposedly behind incursions into Russia's Belgorod region?Analysis by Diana Magnay, Russia correspondent
Murky goings-on in Russia's Belgorod region, just across the border from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin says a group of armed Ukrainian saboteurs have infiltrated Russian territory and that a combination of Russian armed forces are working to "eliminate" them, adding that the president has been informed.
Aerial videos posted to social media show fighting in a number of border villages, with Russian Mi-8 helicopters deployed. In one video, a helicopter appears to be releasing anti-missile decoy flares as it flies above a residential area.
Two groups calling themselves the "Russian Volunteer Corps" and the "Freedom of Russia Legion" say they are behind the incursions.
Video posted to the Russian Volunteer Corps Telegram channel shows blurry night-time footage of a group of men holding the RVC crest beside the signpost to the Russian border village of Bezliudovka.
"The Russian Volunteer Corps is back at home," they write. "The fight continues".
The Russian Volunteer Corps came to attention in March this year when they launched a daring cross-border attack into the neighbouring Russian region of Bryansk.
Led by a well-known Russian neo-Nazi called Denis Kapustin, they are based in Ukraine but say their ultimate goal is the elimination of the Putin regime.
This time they appear to have joined forces with the so-called Freedom of Russia Legion, which shares a similar aim.
In a video posted to their Telegram channel, six armed men, one wearing the Ukrainian yellow and blue colours on his uniform, call on Russians to take responsibility for their future, saying "we are the same Russians as you are" and that the "dictatorship of the Kremlin has to end".
Mikhail Podalyok, who advises the Ukrainian president, wrote on Twitter that Ukraine had nothing to do with the attacks but was watching the situation in Belgorod with interest.
"The only driving political force in a totalitarian country of tightened screws is always an armed guerrilla movement," he wrote.
Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske quoted the country's military intelligence as saying the aim of the operation was to create a "security zone" to protect Ukrainians from cross-border attacks by Russia.
Russia's military has spent considerable effort over the past months constructing trenches and lines of Dragon Teeth defences along its border with Ukraine and further into Russian-occupied territories.
It will come as some embarrassment that they are so easily breached.
The Kremlin says the attacks are simply an attempt to divert attention from the situation in and around Bakhmut.
Belgorod incursion may not be the work of Kyiv, but it will suit their needs well ahead of counteroffensiveAnalysis by Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor
These kinds of operations may well increase in number.
The murk is only going to deepen; the fog of war thickens as Ukraine's much-vaunted counteroffensive approaches.
Ukraine has begun shaping operations, testing Russia's defences, probing weaknesses, attacking Russian logistics and supply lines.
It is also operating psyops operations to disconcert the enemy and create fear among its ranks.
The incursion into the Belgorod region appears to be the work of disaffected Russians basing themselves in northern Ukraine under Kyiv's protection.
But the impact of a shadowy cross-border operation shrouded in mystery will suit Ukraine's needs very well.
It will have happened with Kyiv's approval almost certainly and will help its ongoing efforts to unnerve and menace the Russians as they brace themselves for Ukraine's big push whenever that comes.
Russia doesn't operate up armoured humvees with turrets ,
I don't think anyone is disputing Iranian support for Russia.
Anyway, if this is a western backed, and Ukrainian top-level supported event, hats off to them. Kind of brilliant really.
Where is the evidence that this group are part of the Ukrainian army, and are using US provided weapons? Surely it’s too early in the day to say what is happening.
The "second best army in the world" are on video using Iranian drones and missiles.
AHH but this is Russians seeking freedom from Putin, this is not a Ukrainian sanctioned attack.... The exact same as the little green men in 2014 in Ukraine. Nice to see Putin get some of his own medicine
Russians part of the Ukrainian military using equipment donated by the West likely with caveats attached to their use in another foreign country even if it's Russia
What specific actions do you want Ukraine to take here?
How many troops have these freedom fighters?
It’s not their border. It is across their border. You’d love Ukraine to take the blame for everything. Putin has screwed up Russia so much that the some of the people are rising up. That has nothing to do with Ukraine.
The Americans were crystal clear nothing is to happen or be facilitated in happening on Russian territory.
Ukraine has built up the trust it needs through hard work and diplomacy.
It's hard to take assurances when you see stuff like this which at best is turning a blind eye on their own border.
They’d a weird statement. Do you want them to claim responsibility for Russian freedom fighters fighting for freedom in Russi?
If Ukraine turns a blind eye to activity like this they'll risk western support.
Russians rising up in Russia have US MRAPs and HMMWV’s???
Take your Putin mask off for a minute and stop conflating their fighting for Ukraine in Ukraine with fighting for freedom in Russia.
The "independent russian insurgents" are on video using US MRAPs and HMMWVs
...
Isn't karma a bitch is all I have to say
Russians fleeing to bomb shelters and this is only one day, the poor Ukrainians have this 24hrs a day and for over 1 year
What goes around comes around
Some great trolling going on right now:
Russians moved nuclear weapons from Belogrod
I thought Dad's Army would have been banned in Russia.
But seriously ,blame Putin for that too
He don't give a sh*t.
Probably can expect a seriously massive wave of missile strikes in the next few nights as retaliation for this border incident.
As opposed to the nice, quiet nights they have been having up to now?
I can't see why the US would care if they are not using Western equipment. Ukraine has attacked Russian soil multiple times already.
I think its an excellent move.
Russia will have to divert forces in order to stop and re-enforce its border. The fact that it's Russians doing this as well is a great thing.