Highlights: Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine say they attacked a Russian village. This comes a few days before the Russian presidential election which should see Vladimir Putin triumphantly re-elected in the absence of any opposition. A Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman said the Russian volunteer groups were not acting under orders from kyiv. This is one of the largest drone attacks against Russian territory since the start of the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 25 Ukrainian aircraft in the regions of Moscow and Leningrad.

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine said Tuesday they had attacked a Russian village near the Ukrainian border, a ground operation that comes after a major attack...

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine say they attacked a Russian village

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine said Tuesday they attacked a Russian village near the Ukrainian border, a ground operation that comes after a major drone attack on multiple regions of Russia.

Smoke rises over the town of Kursk, not far from the Ukrainian border, on December 6, 2022 (Illustrative image).

By: RFI with AFP

Facing the Russian invasion for two years, kyiv regularly attacks Russian regions using drones, but incursions into Russian territory are very rare.

This also comes a few days before the Russian presidential election which should see Vladimir Putin triumphantly re-elected in the absence of any opposition.

“

We have crossed the border ,” the unit called the

Russian

Freedom Legion said in the morning

on Telegram, publishing a video in which we can see three armored vehicles driving in the dark on a country path.

Shortly after, the unit claimed to have "destroyed" a Russian armored vehicle in the village of Tiotkino in the Kursk region of eastern

Ukraine

A unit, called the Sibir battalion, declared on Telegram: “as promised, we are bringing freedom and justice to our Russian land.”

“

Heavy fighting is taking place on Russian territory

,” she added.

This unit also called on the Russians “

to ignore the presidential election

” of March 15-16-17.

“

We can only change things for the better with weapons in hand

,” she said, describing the vote as fiction.

Russia confirms this attack

The Russian governor of the Kursk region confirmed the ongoing attack on the village and reported one minor injury, but denied any “breakthrough” by the attackers.

“

A sabotage and intelligence group tried to break through

” to the village of Tiotkino, “

gun battles took place, but no breakthrough occurred

,” he assured.

“

At the moment, shooting at the village of Tiotkino is being carried out from the Ukrainian side

,” the official nevertheless added late in the morning.

A Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman said the Russian volunteer groups were not acting under orders from kyiv.

“

On the territory of the Russian Federation, they act absolutely autonomously, on their own

,” Andrii Yusov was quoted as saying by Ukrainian media.

Before this attack, several regions of Russia were targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.

Two energetic sites were hit and caught fire.

According to Russian authorities, Ukrainian drones particularly targeted Orel and Kstovo, two Russian towns located approximately 160 km and 800 km respectively from the Ukrainian border, setting fire to energy depots there.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 25 Ukrainian aircraft in the regions of Moscow and Leningrad, as well as in those of Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk, all three of which border Ukraine.

This is one of the largest drone attacks against Russian territory since the start of the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.

Also read: Ukraine: three civilians killed, twelve injured during Russian strikes in the Donetsk region

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine say they attacked a Russian village

Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine say they attacked a Russian village

Russia confirms this attack

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