The pro-Ukrainian raid group announced plans to advance on Moscow

(Dan Tri) – Pro-Ukrainian armed groups announced that they had raided and taken control of a village on the Russian border and revealed plans to advance to the capital Moscow.

FRL gunmen (Photo: Newsweek).

Newsweek quoted Mr. Alexei Baranovsky, spokesman for the pro-Ukrainian armed group called the Russian Free Corps (FRL), on March 12, saying that this group along with two other groups raided the Russian border, controlling

`Fights broke out in Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk border regions, our groups took the initiative,` he said.

According to Mr. Baranovsky, the Russian side did not think that armed groups from Ukraine could simultaneously attack the above two areas, so they fell into a passive position.

Videos shared on social networks show an armed group driving tanks and other armored fighting vehicles from the Ukrainian border into Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk border areas at dawn on March 12.

`I cannot reveal the number of members participating in the campaign, but I confirm we have enough people to achieve the highest military goals,` he said.

He added: `I just came from a war zone, where I provided supply support to our forces.`

Baranovsky said this simultaneous attack by the FRL was their boldest among raids on the Russian border since the conflict broke out more than 2 years ago.

According to him, the cross-border attack may force Russia to send reserve forces to protect this area, thereby reducing pressure on the Ukrainian army in the East.

`We are distracting the reserve forces, the attention of the Russian army. They are forced to transfer reserve troops… This is also our contribution to protecting Ukraine,` he said.

However, Russia provided information contrary to FRL’s statement.

FRL is an armed group that fights alongside the Ukrainian army.

`They are definitely relying on external support and intelligence information,` commented Marina Miron, a defense studies researcher at Imperial College London.

Pro-Ukrainian armed groups announced a raid on Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk border areas on the morning of March 12 (Photo: BBC).