Two paramilitary groups Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) and Siberian Battalion (SB) — supporting Ukraine — claimed to have entered Russian territory, facing the country’s forces as Moscow denied any breakthrough Tuesday.
Videos uploaded on social media showed the armed men purportedly in Belgorod and Kursk regions in Russia.
Russian news agency Tass, quoting the Defence Ministry and the Federal Security Service, reported that Ukrainian forces were forced out from the territory with losses.
Ukrainian military could not control any settlements however, an exiled Russian politician claimed that the forces controlled two villages.
The Defence Ministry said that on March 12, Ukrainian formations attempted to “invade the Belgorod Region in three locations at once: near the settlements of Odnorobovka, Nekhoteyevka and Spodaryushino. They were hit by aviation, artillery and rocket forces.”
Russian intelligence agency FSB said that since March 10, “Kyiv has lost over 100 men, six tanks, and a CAESAR self-propelled artillery unit, along with 20 armored fighting vehicles and a strongpoint.”
Ukraine denied any involvement saying the paramilitary groups were “independent organisations of Russian nationals, and therefore operating at home.”
The Russian military operation against Ukraine has entered its third year starting in February 2022. This is considered as a major war in the European continent since World War Two.
