Russian Volunteer Corps calls for evacuation: What's happening in Kursk and Belgorod regions
Russian volunteer military conduct raids in Russia for the second day (Photo: Getty Images)
In the border areas with Ukraine, Russian volunteer military have been conducting raids for the second consecutive day, partially gaining control over the village of Tetkino. Additionally, fighters are preparing strikes on the positions of the occupying army, prompting calls for evacuation from the residents of Belgorod and Kursk.
More details about the events in the Belgorod and Kursk regions today can be found in the material by RBC-Ukraine below.
During the preparation of the material, data from the RBC-Ukraine sources, the Freedom of Russia Legion Telegram channel, the Siberian Battalion, Russian Volunteer Corps, Baza, ASTRA, and Radio Liberty Telegram channels, and the statement by the representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andrii Yusov, were used.
Fighting continues
As of today, fighting in the Kursk region for the village of Tetkino continues.
According to the Freedom of Russia Legion military, part of the settlement is under their control, and they continue to advance.
"Apostle," "Domovoy," and other assault groups send greetings from the liberated part of Tetkino. "Moving forward!" - the legion fighters captioned the video, who previously reported that they "spent the night in their native lands."
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian project DeepState previously marked the border territory in Russia as a "gray zone" with an area of 41.8 square kilometers on the map. This includes the settlements of Tetkino in the Kursk region and Glotovo/Kozinka, Lozovaya Rudka, Nehoteevka, and Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Belgorod region.
Photo: Fighting continues for the second day in Tetkino, Kursk region (t.me/kursk_tipich).
Additionally, battles were recorded at the border crossing point Nehoteevka in the Belgorod region. Satellite images, published by Radio Liberty journalists, clearly show traces of yesterday's battle.
Furthermore, a control point of the occupying army was destroyed by Russian volunteers. The corresponding video was shared by fighters on the internet.
Russian army suffers losses
According to ASTRA sources, at least 4 servicemen of the Rosgvardia were killed yesterday, and another 4 were wounded in the area of the village of Nezhegol in the Belgorod region. They were attacked by a drone. In the same location, a drone destroyed a Rosgvardia Ural vehicle and a D-20 howitzer.
Additionally, at least 2 servicemen of the Russian Ministry of Defense were wounded on the morning of March 12 during a shootout in the area of the village of Zhuravlovka in the Belgorod region.
Several more servicemen of the Russian Ministry of Defense also sustained injuries during the fighting in the Zhuravlovka area, but the exact number is unknown, according to ASTRA.
Furthermore, one serviceman of the non-departmental security forces was injured as a result of a rocket attack and UAV attack on Grayvoron in the Belgorod region. Due to the shelling, buildings of the FSB, police, and court were damaged in the city.
Calls for evacuation in Belgorod and Kursk
Amid active fighting in the border areas, the Freedom of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps, and Siberian Battalion released a joint statement today calling on the residents of Kursk and Belgorod to evacuate as strikes are being prepared on the positions of the Russian army.
"We appeal to our fellow citizens: the residents of the city of Belgorod, officials of the Belgorod administration, and all who can hear us. Putin's killers are launching massive strikes on peaceful Ukrainian cities, placing their positions between your houses, the schools of your children, and government buildings. Every day, dozens of innocent people (mostly women and children) are killed by shelling from Belgorod. The shelling of Ukraine from the territory of Belgorod must stop! Therefore, we are forced to inflict artillery strikes from military positions in Belgorod and Kursk. To avoid casualties among the civilian population, we call on everyone to leave the cities immediately," the statement reads.
Additionally, the fighters also addressed the local authorities, urging them to initiate evacuation from the cities of the Kursk and Belgorod regions.
Putin's reaction
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin commented on the breach of the Russian border in an interview with pro-Kremlin media. According to him, such actions allegedly occur "against the backdrop of failures on the line of confrontation of the Ukrainian army."
"At the state border line, the adversary attempted to attack primarily with sabotage groups - according to the latest report from the General Staff - somewhere up to 300 people, including with the participation of foreign mercenaries," Putin fantasized.
Additionally, the Kremlin chief expressed confidence that these attacks would attempt to "disrupt the elections in Russia and gain leverage" for territorial exchanges in possible negotiations.
Drone attacks on Russia continue
While battles are ongoing in the Russian border areas, drone attacks are occurring across several Russian regions. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 65 drones just last night and this morning. Regions targeted by UAVs included Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Leningrad, and Ryazan.
Moreover, according to RBC-Ukraine sources, Ukrainian drones attacked three Russian oil refineries in Ryazan, Kstovo of the Nizhny Novgorod region, and Kirishi of the Leningrad region, as well as the airbase of the Russian Air Force in Buturlinovka and the military airfield in Voronezh.
Based on footage circulating online, one of the most successful attacks was the attack on the oil refinery in Ryazan, where a large fire broke out.
Meanwhile, the Russian authorities officially stated that a drone fell today on the territory of the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery (Rostov region). As a result, the operation of the refinery was suspended.
The DIU cautiously comments on this attack, neither denying nor confirming its involvement. However, they note that a series of events are currently taking place at the military facilities of the aggressor state, including at the specified enterprise.
For more details on the mass drone attacks, the latest raid by Russian volunteers in Russia, the main targets, and possible consequences, read the material by RBC-Ukraine "Under Kremlin's nose: Role of drone attacks and border breaches in shifting war onto Russian soil."
