The Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion continue operations in Belgorod region. Zelenskyi visits frontline troops outside Vuhledar.
Russian Volunteer Corps, Freedom of Russia Legion continue operations in Belgorod region
The Russian Volunteer Corps (made up of the Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian troops) said that the war will continue until Putin’s body hangs on the Kremlin walls. On May 22, together with the Freedom of Russia Legion the group began a raid in Belgorod region.
Soon everyone in Russia will know someone who was killed in war in Ukraine, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) said on Telegram. “In order to end it, we must attack the enemy in the territory they occupied. The war will continue until the hanging body of Putin adorns the Kremlin walls, and its gang is held liable by a just court of Russian anger,” RDK said.
A raid by the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion into Belgorod region took Russian officials and military bloggers by surprise and created an informational shock, the Institute for the Study of War said in a report, summarizing the events of May 22.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed “deep concern” over the incursion of the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps into Belgorod region. He called the Russian fighters “Ukrainian militants”. Peskov said that Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine had been launched to prevent such incursions. He said that more efforts were needed from the Russian side to prevent such incidents.
No emergency meetings of the Security Council will be called over the incursion, he noted. Asked why it took more than a day for Russian security forces to push out the so-called “saboteurs,” Peskov said only law enforcement, the Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service could answer that.
Peskov earlier said that President Vladimir Putin had been informed of what he called an “attempted breakthrough of saboteurs” into Belgorod region.
Putin has not commented on the incident. The Russians began to evacuate Belgorod-22, a nuclear munitions storage in the area, a representative of the Main Intelligence Department of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Andriy Yusov said Monday.
Zelenskyi visits frontline troops
President Zelenskyi visited frontline troops in Vuhledar-Maryinka area, south-west of Donetsk to mark the Day of Marines and award soldiers. The president was briefed by Commander of the Marine Corps and commander of the Donetsk operational-tactical group Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol.
Russian forces have slightly decreased offensive actions in Bakhmut, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram on Tuesday. Ukrainian troops made some progress on the flanks to the north and south of Bakhmut. The fighting has “somewhat decreased”, she added. Ukrainian troops control the southwestern outskirts of the city in “Litak” district. In some areas, Russian forces are on the defensive and are taking heavy losses. At the same time, Russia maintains a high intensity of attacks, Malyar said.
What will become a victory for Ukraine? Ukraine in Flames #439
The Peace Formula can only be Ukrainian – because the war is taking place on Ukrainian soil and it is Ukrainians who are fighting for their right to independence, territorial integrity and a safe future. Ukraine is trying to convey to the global community how it sees the end of this war and how to protect the states of the world from such unprovoked aggression. Ukraine is ready to communicate with world leaders who put forward certain proposals for a peaceful settlement and the end of the war, but does not accept any negotiations with compromises concerning its territory and its people. Watch Ukraine in flames #439 to find out about what to do after the war ends with the victory of Ukraine and will it be an inclusive security system, or will it unite only those countries that share the same values.
Guests:
- Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA (2015-2019), Chairman of the Board of Ukraine Crisis Media Center
- Vitaly Portnikov, publicist, journalist, analyst