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Ukraine war: Anti-Kremlin fighters say Russian soldiers ‘captured’

  • By James FitzGerald
  • BBC News

Image supply, Vyacheslav Gladkov/Telegram

Image caption,

Belgorod regional chief Vyacheslav Gladkov posted a video saying he had agreed to a proposal to satisfy the fighters

Fighters against the federal government in Moscow say they’ve captured some Russian soldiers in Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine.

Belgorod’s prime official replied to say he had agreed to satisfy the boys’s captors if the soldiers had been nonetheless alive.

But later, the fighters mentioned that the governor “had not found the courage” to satisfy them and they might hand over their captives to Ukraine.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for current assaults in its border territories.

Kyiv denies being straight concerned.

The Russian military mentioned on Sunday its artillery had hit a “terrorist” group close to the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka, including that “the enemy scattered and retreated”.

Earlier, a bunch of paramilitaries issued a message on the Telegram app, saying that they had captured two males however would hand them over if Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov agreed to talks.

The video purported to point out each captives, though the BBC has been unable to independently confirm their identities.

The message was posted by the Liberty of Russia Legion (FRL) and described as a joint assertion with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK).

Mr Gladkov responded along with his personal Telegram video, saying he had agreed to the talks if the soldiers had been proven to be nonetheless alive – including that he thought that they had in all probability been killed.

Later, the RDK posted an extra video – this time showing to point out much more captives, during which they mentioned that Mr Gladkov had failed to show up for the assembly.

“Neither the military nor the civilian leadership is interested” within the destiny of the captured males, the RDK mentioned.

Meanwhile, the FRL described the Russian authorities as “rotten and cowardly”. They mentioned they might now hand over the captives to Ukraine – to be topic to an trade with Ukrainian prisoners of battle.

Both teams wish to topple President Vladimir Putin, and in addition oppose the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that he launched in February final 12 months.

Ukrainian officers say the 2 paramilitary organisations include Russian residents who wish to create a “security zone” for Ukrainians.

The RDK got here to prominence in March for a cross-border raid in Russia’s Bryansk area. Its chief is a Russian nationalist with alleged hyperlinks to neo-Nazis.

The FRL is taken into account a distinct form of organisation that fights alongside Ukrainian troops towards Russian forces.

Image caption,

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) got here to prominence within the Bryansk area in March

In his video, Mr Gladkov labelled the fighters in query “scoundrels, murderers, fascists”, however promised to “guarantee safety” if the talks came about.

And although they requested him to go to Novaya Tavolzhanka to satisfy them, he mentioned this was too harmful and that he would anticipate them at a checkpoint within the city of Shebekino.

Mr Gladkov has not commented on the occasions for the reason that video, however posted photos of a gathering with regional and federal officers.

Kyiv has denied having any direct involvement in such assaults.

But it has painted the rising violence in Russian territory as being the inevitable consequence of Russia’s invasion final 12 months.

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