Russians Invade Russia.
Russian's serving in the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom to Russia Legion, mounted a raid across the Russian border from Ukraine into Belgorod Oblast. These anti-Putin units are all Russian volunteers 'attached' to the Ukrainian Army.
This unexpected raid successfully pushed ten kilometres into Russia and then withdrew. Russia lost at least one helicopter and several armoured vehicles. The the biggest return on the mission was psychological.
A 'raid' is not intended to hold ground. Raids are to destroy enemy positions, capture prisoners, test defences and then withdraw. The affect of this mission was to show Putin that his border is not a safe zone that he can withdraw his troops behind and safely launch missions into Ukraine. Russian civilians are no longer safe there. His Generals now have to consider defending hundreds of access points on their borders spreading their defences even thinner.
The raid created panic in the local area with the Russian population in Belgorod blocking the roads as they tried to escape the war. In the past year several missile attacks on Kyiv have been launched from this area.
The UA government are playing Putin at his own game by claiming 'plausible deniability' for this mission. They claim that this was not authorised by them and was carried out by Russians that were not under their command. Of course we know this statement is probably false but it is the same game that Russia used to enter Donbas and Crimea. They used soldiers without insignia while claiming their troops were Ukrainian resistance fighters. However, there is a danger that these independent units could cause friction in the Ukrainian military command. I like to think this mission was sanctioned. It is very important as Ukraine moves towards offense to impose strict discipline, especially on irregular forces.
This raid is significant in another way. It gives credence and power to the idea that many Russians want to resist Putin and end the war. These units might attract the allegiance of other resistance groups in Russia or create an opportunity for Russian prisoners to change sides.
Putin will of course claim that this is an invasion of Russian territory and threaten 'unknown serious consequences' (again). Those decisions are his and his alone.
I am still of the opinion that he has nothing left to escalate with because any use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons would isolate him from his few remaining friends and accelerate his demise.
Slava Ukraini!
Who Dares Shares
Robin Horsfall
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