Anti-Kremlin rebels offer Belgorod residents to evacuate to Ukraine

The Freedom of Russia Legion made the statement on Telegram.

"Putin's military continues chaotic shelling of the Belgorod region. Trying to somehow strike our forces, the enemy is indiscriminately unleashing fire upon settlements, regardless of civilian casualties," the message says.

The militia noted that anyone who needs help can be voluntarily evacuated to Ukraine and be provided shelter and all necessary basic needs.

"Given the threat to the civilian population, we agreed with the Ukrainian command to open humanitarian corridors for Belgorod residents who are suffering from shelling by the regime's army," the Legion said.

In order to seek asylum, people can approach the representatives of the Freedom of Russia Legion or the Russian Volunteer Corps.

On the morning of June 3, multiple settlements including Shebekino, Nova Tavolzhanka, Murom, and others were subjected to artillery strikes.

Furthermore, Russia has deployed a special Akhmat tactical unit to the combat zone to conduct information operations.

"These are special forces that are used by Putin's generals exclusively to fabricate staged videos. Disguised as Ichkerian soldiers, these actors adeptly simulate combat operations and the capture of settlements, all the while operating far behind the frontlines," the Legion added.

The activities of the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps 

The Freedom of Russia Legion is a Russian military unit under the Armed Forces of Ukraine established in March 2022 during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. It has been reported that cells of this legion have emerged within Russia's territory as of May 1, 2022.

The Russian Volunteer Corps is another volunteer formation fighting alongside Ukraine. On March 29, they released a video denying any involvement of Ukraine in an operation that occurred in the Bryansk region on March 2, 2023. They confirmed their own participation in the operation by a video report.

On April 6, the Russian Volunteer Corps announced that it had once again entered Russian territory, specifically the Bryansk region, from Ukraine and returned without any casualties. Additionally, the volunteer group stated in a comment to Polygon Media that they had completed their "propaganda tasks" by engaging with the local population and distributing leaflets.

On June 1, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion published a video announcing the start of the second phase of raids on their homeland.