Former Russian State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev has stated that the main task of Russian volunteers is to liberate and hold a certain part of Russian territory.
He made this statement in an interview with Espresso.
"Russian volunteers continue to stay on the territory of Russia and engage in active combat. It's just that often the media stop reporting on the same events. However, the war is ongoing, and our operation as well. Our guys are engaged in tough combat operations. There are casualties and injuries. However, we will continue to pursue our goals. Our maximum program is to liberate a certain part of the territory and hold it," Ponomarev explained.
The politician also outlined the main purpose of the Russian volunteers' raid.
"It would be strange for us to exchange liberated territories for those occupied by Russia in Ukraine. Because we want to destroy the Putin regime. We do not want to liberate a separate part of the Russian territory and then exchange it. Our goal is the destruction of the regime and the establishment of a new state structure," he added.
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In the morning of March 12, fighters from the "Freedom of Russia" legion declared from the Russian-Ukrainian border that they were going to liberate Russia from dictator Vladimir Putin. Military personnel from the Siberian battalion reported fierce battles on Russian territory.
On Wednesday, March 13, Russian volunteers continued their raid into Russian territory: they urged residents of Kursk and Belgorod regions to evacuate. Later, volunteer Alexei Baranovsky of the "Freedom of Russia" legion stated that combat clashes were taking place beyond the outskirts of the village of Tyotkino in the Kursk region.
Major (reserve) of the National Guard, veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Aleksey Hetman, believes that the raid by fighters of the "Freedom of Russia" legion is a challenge to Putin and his circle. In his opinion, if even one battalion of the Russian Federation switches to the side of Russians fighting against Putin, it may trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire army.
On March 13, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin reacted to the alleged attacks by Ukraine on the territory of the Russian Federation. According to the dictator, among the goals, "if not to disrupt, then to obstruct," are the elections in the Russian Federation. Another goal, as Putin believes, is to "gain some advantage in a possible negotiation process: well, we will return this to you, and you will return that to us."
On March 14, volunteer Alexei Baranovsky of the "Freedom of Russia" legion announced that the Russian army had deployed reserves in the Belgorod and Kursk regions and was actively trying to displace units of Russian volunteers. The "Freedom of Russia" legion warned locals about the start of active attacks.
Once again, the "Freedom of Russia" legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian battalion called for the urgent evacuation of residents of the Belgorod and Kursk regions.
On March 16, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, announced that in the coming days, shopping centers, educational institutions, and kindergartens in Belgorod and the region will be closed.
