The Russian commander of fighters that carried out a raid on a Russian border area this week stated his group would quickly launch extra incursions into Russian territory from Ukraine.
Denis Kapustin, who described himself because the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), spoke to reporters on Wednesday on the Ukrainian aspect of the border with Russia a day after Moscow stated it had repelled an assault on Russia’s Belgorod area that lasted virtually 24 hours.
“I believe you will notice us once more on that aspect,” stated Kapustin, who is called an excessive right-wing Russian nationalist who launched himself to reporters by his call-sign White Rex.
“The operation is ongoing,” the Moscow-born Kapustin stated, flanked by some 30 fighters in camouflage.
“Each operation that takes place on the territory of Russia forces the army management to maneuver a considerable amount of forces exactly to that quadrant, due to this fact laying naked some elements of the entrance, elements of the border,” he stated.
“Our future plans are new territories of the Russian Federation, which we will certainly enter… Try to be just a bit bit affected person and wait simply a few days.”
Two armed teams working in Ukraine – Kapustin’s RVC and the allied Freedom of Russia Legion – claimed duty for the incursion on Monday and Tuesday.
Kyiv stated it was not concerned within the assault, indicating that it was carried out by Russian anti-Putin forces in opposition to the Russian army.
Kapustin described his mission as a struggle in opposition to “injustice” and “torture” beneath Russian President Vladimir Putin that was aimed toward spurring different Russians to behave.
“I need to show to them [Russians] you can struggle in opposition to tyrants and that Putin’s energy shouldn’t be boundless,” he stated.
Ukrainian authorities “did encourage us” however didn’t present weapons or gear or directions for this mission, Kapustin added.
Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that two ladies died and not less than 12 folks have been wounded within the cross-border assault.
Native Russian media additionally reported on Thursday that an estimated 500 homes have been broken within the assault, together with 200 that have been destroyed. Residents who had fled their houses in Belgorod haven’t but returned in some areas, based on the media stories, as authorities are working to establish and make protected mines that have been left on the streets and in buildings within the area’s Grayvoron district.
The Russian army stated that it routed the raiders with artillery and air assaults that killed greater than 70 of what it described as “Ukrainian nationalists” on a sabotage mission designed to deflect consideration from Russia’s features within the bombed-out metropolis of Bakhmut.
Kapustin stated the whole losses on his aspect have been two killed and 10 wounded.
“And, after all, the Ukrainian army took our wounded. However something greater than this is able to make issues tough,” he stated referring to Ukrainian involvement in his operations.
“Each choice we make … past the state border is our personal choice. Clearly, we are able to ask our [Ukrainian] comrades, buddies for his or her help in planning,” he stated.
Described by the United States-based Anti-Defamation League as “a Russian neo-Nazi”, Kapustin’s audacious cross-border raid has embarrassed the Kremlin but in addition raises questions concerning the involvement of far-right Russian nationalists in Ukraine and the way this would possibly have an effect on Western allies’ readiness to provide Kyiv with weapons.
Kapustin admitted his group was right-wing. He was additionally requested if he minded being labelled a Nazi.
“I’ve my set of views, it’s a patriotic set of views, it’s a traditionalist set of views, it’s a right-wing set of views. , you’ll by no means discover me waving a flag with a swastika, you’ll by no means discover me elevating my hand in a Hitler signal. So why would you name me that?”
Requested repeatedly about media stories that his fighters had used US army gear within the raid on Russian territory – gear supplied to permit Ukraine to defend itself in opposition to Russia’s invasion – Kapustin declined to reply immediately.
“I do know precisely the place I obtained my weapons from. Sadly, not from the Western companions,” he stated. He recommended that Western army gear had been captured by Russia within the battle for Bakhmut and that such gear may very well be purchased on the black market.
“I believe I defined that the Western army help sadly goes forwards and backwards, being raided. In Bakhmut, as an example, I do know that a variety of armoured autos, American armoured autos, obtained raided by the Russian forces,” he stated.
US officers stated on Wednesday that they have been wanting into stories that US autos have been used inside Russian territory.
The Kremlin stated using US army {hardware} within the cross-border assault proved the West’s rising involvement within the battle.
“It’s no secret that this gear is getting used in opposition to our personal army. And it’s no secret for us that the direct and oblique involvement of Western international locations on this battle is rising by the day. We’re drawing the suitable conclusions,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu promised on Wednesday that Moscow would reply to any extra cross-border raids “extraordinarily harshly”.
