russian volunteer military formations announced a "march to the elections in russia". The fighters have already crossed the border and engaged in combat with the russian army. Find out what is the situation there now and what is the purpose of their operation

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On the morning of 12 March, russian volunteers from the russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), the Legion Freedom of russian and the Siberian Battalion crossed the border with russia and engaged the russian army in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. We will tell you what the volunteers' goals are and what the Ukrainian army says about their actions.

The goal: to go to the elections in russia

This morning, the Legion of Freedom of russia (LFR) announced their return to the territory of russia. They justified their actions by the years of captivity under the leadership of the russian authorities and the desire to liberate the people of russia from the dictatorship of the kremlin.

"The Legion is going to the 'elections'," they said. As you know, russia is currently holding a presidential election race, but in fact the outcome for russians has already been set in stone within the kremlin - putin will win the election.

In addition to the LFR, russian volunteers of the Siberian Battalion have entered the territory of the russian federation.

"We have said before that it will not be possible to overthrow the criminal dictatorial regime in russia peacefully. It can only be removed with arms in hand. Last night we started to fulfil our promise. Fierce fighting continues on the territory of the russian federation," the battalion explains its actions.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that russian volunteers fighting on the side of Ukraine have carried out similar operations in russia.

What does the Ukrainian army say?

Some time later, after the first reports of a volunteer breaking through the russian border, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, commented on the situation in a commentary to RBC-Ukraine. He stated that the russian Freedom Legion, the russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion operate autonomously on the territory of the so-called russian federation as independent structures and organisations, i.e. without the help of the Ukrainian army. Yusov noted that the volunteers fulfil their socio-political tasks.

"After all, they are citizens of the russian federation and have every right to do so," the intelligence official said.

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What is happening in russia now?

Since the morning, local media have been reporting massive drone attacks that have hit oil depots and other critical infrastructure in several regions of the country.

At the same time, air raid warnings have been sounded in russia's regions bordering Ukraine, and fighting continues in settlements near the border. Some residents of villages in Belgorod and Kursk regions reported seeing heavy equipment with unidentified flags.

Shooting and explosions are currently heard in these villages. 

A plane crashes in russia amid the operation

In the afternoon, russian media reported that an Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed in the Ivanovo region. It is reported that the plane caught fire in flight and failed to reach the airfield, crashing in the forest.

It is worth noting that the Ivanovo region is located far from the border with Ukraine, where the russian volunteers are currently conducting an operation, so it is likely that the crash was not related to the military's breakthrough into the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

We remind you! Every month a large number of foreigners apply to join the Foreign Legion. However, despite the fact that the application procedure has been simplified, foreigners continue to face a number of problems. We will tell you how to avoid common difficulties and what are the most common reasons for rejection here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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