Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Militia Leader Warns of More Incursions

The leader of the Russian militia group that carried out a raid in the Russian border region of Belgorod warned Moscow that more such incursions will be coming. This follows the recent claims by Russia that it cracked down on the raid.

On Wednesday, Denis Kapustin, the commander of the so-called Russian Volunteer Corps, told reporters on the Ukrainian side of the border that two of his fighters have only been “lightly injured” following the clash with the Russian military. Kapustin said that only two people on his side of the raid were killed, and 10 others were injured despite Moscow’s claims of having killed 70. Kapustin also said they took a Russian armored vehicle and an anti-drone gun as trophies.

“I think you will see us again on that side,” said Kapustin. “I cannot reveal those upcoming things. I cannot even reveal the direction. The…border is pretty long. Yet again there will be a spot where things will get hot.”

Kapustin’s comments come a day after Moscow claimed it cracked down on the raid in the region, blaming “Ukrainian nationalists” for the attack. Ukraine said the incursion was done by Russian citizens, depicting it as an internal conflict. The two Russian militia groups operating in Ukraine - the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion - have claimed responsibility for the incursion.

When pressed on Western media reports that the group has been using US military equipment that was meant to help Ukraine, Kapustin did not give a direct answer but said that it was not “from Western partners.”

Kapustin also hinted that Western military equipment was taken by Russia during the battle for Bakhmut, and such equipment could be purchased on the black market.

Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said 20,000 of his fighters were killed in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city which Moscow claims to have already captured. Prigozhin said around 50,000 prisoners were recruited to fight in Ukraine, with around 20 percent of them getting killed in the battle.

Prigozhin also said a similar number of contract soldiers were killed in the months-long battle for control of the territory.

Photo: Denis Vinogradenko/Wikimedia Commons(CC by 2.0)