This was reported by the Freedom of Russia Legion on June 4 on Telegram.
“The entire United Russia government, represented by Governor Gladkov, displayed fear and remained comfortably in their offices, leaving their people in our captivity. This has revealed their true nature as a corrupt and cowardly government. It is futile to engage with them. They are nothing but scumbags and scoundrels. We will transfer the prisoners to the Ukrainian side for exchange," the statement declared.
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According to Caesar from the Freedom of Russia Legion, the prisoners were forced to take up arms against their will and could potentially join Russian volunteer units once they realize the injustice and futility of the war initiated by Putin.
On May 22, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps announced the liberation of the settlements of Kozinka and Gora-Podol in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, with their advanced units entering the city of Graivoron.
On June 2, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion initiated a second offensive in the Belgorod region, focusing their efforts on the city of Shebekino.
Yesterday, June 3, the "legionnaires" accused Putin's troops of indiscriminate shelling in the Belgorod region and urged residents to evacuate further into Ukraine.
“The border area in the Belgorod region is rapidly turning into a gray zone (on the part of the Russian Federation): abandoned houses, abandoned residents, complete absence of local administration and police representatives... The Russian Volunteers Corps is trying to gain a foothold in this suddenly formed gray zone in order to restore order later,” the RVC informed on June 3.
On the morning of June 4, volunteers announced clashes on the outskirts of Shebekino.
In the afternoon of June 4, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Legion released a video featuring two captives who appealed to regional head Vyacheslav Gladkov, requesting him to come and retrieve the prisoners held by the army under Putin's control.
At 4:54 p.m., Gladkov responded and agreed to a meeting to collect the prisoners but suggested an alternate location.