BarcelonaFor Russians opposed to Putin, there is no longer a possible alternative to weapons. This was announced this Thursday in Kyiv, at a press conference organized by Ukrinform, the leaders of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), the Russian Freedom Legion and the Siberian Battalion, the three Russian pro-Ukraine factions that this week in the past they attacked the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod from Ukraine. “Unfortunately, peaceful protest does not work and more and more people assume that the only way out is weapons,” said the leader of the Siberian Battalion, known by the pseudonym of Kholod.
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The leaders of the other two factions have agreed. “There are no more options. We must put our efforts into the units that are fighting this war,” cried the leader of the RDK Denís Kapustin, according to reports The country. “If they don’t want to participate or support, don’t say they are part of the opposition,” said the controversial far-right soldier. The paramilitaries have claimed to have captured 37 Russian soldiers, but have ruled out exchanging prisoners because they say “some of those held want to fight” in their ranks. The number of pro-Ukrainian soldiers killed was also not discussed at the press conference, although Moscow last week put the number at 429.
Leaders of paramilitary groups have said the attack, the biggest on Russian soil since the war began and has forced the evacuation of 9,000 civilians from Belgorod, is still ongoing. “Very soon we will move towards other settlements,” Kholod assured. The leader of the Siberian Battalion believes that Putin is losing control of Russia and that is why “more and more compatriots” are joining his ranks. Kholod has also questioned the legitimacy of the Russian president. “The citizens of Kursk and Belgorod, under the bombs, could not vote [a les eleccions presidencials de diumenge]. No one can say that Putin’s election was legitimate,” he said.
Kapustin, Kholod and Russia’s Freedom Legion leader Aleksei Baranovski have also been quick to clarify their ties to Kyiv. Kapustin has stated that they received logistical and intelligence support from Ukraine, but wanted to stress that they are acting independently. In fact, when the journalists asked him about the origin of the weapons they used, the soldier assured, somewhat sarcastically, that “everyone can buy tanks and rockets in a military store”.
2024-03-21 19:45:34
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