Joint statement by the Legion “Freedom of Russia,” the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion

We appeal to our fellow citizens: residents of the city of Belgorod, officials of the Belgorod administration and all those who hear us.
Putin’s killers are carrying out massive attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities, placing their positions between your homes, your children’s schools and government institutions. Every day, dozens of ordinary innocent people (mostly women and children) die from shelling from Belgorod. The shelling of Ukraine from the territory of Belgorod must stop!

In this regard, we are forced to inflict fire on military positions located in the cities of Belgorod and Kursk.

To avoid civilian casualties, we call on everyone to leave the cities immediately.

We call on local authorities to save human lives and begin evacuating the cities of Kursk and Belgorod regions.

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Breaking through the border by Russian volunteers: what is known at the moment

On the morning of March 12 , three Russian units fighting on the side of Ukraine – the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion – began publishing videos of battles on Russian territory. The breakthrough was carried out simultaneously in two regions – Belgorod and Kursk.

In the Kursk region, clashes occurred in the village of Tetkino. There, LSR reported on the destruction of an armored personnel carrier and a company stronghold. Both videos were geolocated to Tetkino . The Legion later reported that the settlement had completely come under their control. At the moment, the Russian Armed Forces are trying to drive the Legion fighters out of Tetkino.

In the Belgorod region, battles allegedly took place in the area of the settlements of Nezhegol, Zhuravlevka and Lozovaya Rudka. Explosions were heard at the entrance to the regional center, and Belgorod itself was attacked by UAVs, one of which flew into the administration building . RDK commander Denis Nikitin said in an interview with Ukrainian journalists last night that the operation is still ongoing and it is too early to sum up the results, and one of the political goals of the raid was the disruption of the so-called presidential elections in the border areas.

Compared to previous breakthroughs, this operation is distinguished by a larger geography and the use of different weapons. In addition to small arms and drones, Russian volunteers also use heavy equipment. According to ASTRA sources , during yesterday’s attacks at least 4 servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces were killed and at least 9 were injured. The governor of the Belgorod region, Gladkov, announced the death of one participant in the “terrorist defense.”