The groups also carried out sabotage actions earlier this year. For example, according to Hahn, the groups were responsible for sabotaging infrastructure in Bryansk, Kursk and also in Belgorod. “Those residents see it as a taste of their own medicine.” But what Hahn questions is the origin of the groups. “We don’t know exactly what these ‘freedom groups’ are affiliated with and who has a finger in the pie.”
“There are direct lines with Ukraine, but maybe they have a free hand to do what they want”
The two groups that have now carried out several attacks on Russian territory near Belgorod are the Legion of Freedom of Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps. According to Hahn’s information, the groups have “definitely” been active in Ukraine before. «Last year they signed the declaration of Irpin, Irpin is a suburb of Kiev occupied at the beginning of the war. All those clubs there have said they will join forces.’
Foreign Legion
According to Hahn, “the clubs are believed to be an offshoot of a foreign legion of Ukraine.” “This is the legion of foreigners fighting for Ukraine. Within that, these people would operate independently.’ Kiev says it is not “directly” involved in the groups. “In other words, there are hotlines, but maybe they have free rein to do whatever they want,” says Hahn.
The spokesman for Russia’s Legion of Freedom is Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomarev. He is a former member of the Russian parliament and now lives in exile in Ukraine. Ponomarev was also the one who last year claimed responsibility on behalf of another partisan army for the attack on Daria Dugina, daughter of Russian extremist Aleksandr Dugin.
Russian defense line
The Freedom Legion was created in March 2022, at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The army’s hallmark is the blue-and-white flag, which is also popular with other Russian dissidents.
For Russia, attacks on its own soil are “annoying,” says foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg. “They’re building a pretty ‘masterful’ line of defense all along the border. So, if occasionally given pin pricks, then it’s annoying. But that’s not something they really care about,’ says Hammelburg.