He said this on Espreso TV.
"Russian volunteers continue to remain on the territory of the Russian Federation and are actively engaged in combat operations. It's just that the media often stops writing and reporting on the same events. However, the war continues and so does our operation. Our guys are engaged in heavy fighting. There are dead and wounded. However, we will continue to achieve our goals. Our program is to liberate a certain part of the territory and hold it," said Ponomarev.
The politician also named the main goal of the raid.
"It would be strange for us if we were to exchange the liberated territories for the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia. Because we want to destroy the Putin regime. We do not want to destroy a separate part of the Russian territory and then exchange it. Our goal is to destroy the regime and establish a new power structure," he added.
On the morning of March 12, members of the Freedom of Russia Legion from the Russian-Ukrainian border announced that they were going to liberate Russia from dictator Vladimir Putin. Soldiers of the Siberian Battalion reported fierce fighting on Russian territory, and the Freedom of Russia claimed to have taken control of the village of Tetkino, Kursk region
Oleksiy Hetman, a reserve major of the National Guard of Ukraine and a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, believes that the raid by the Freedom of Russia Legion is a challenge to Putin and his entourage. In his opinion, if at least one battalion of the Russian Federation goes over to the side of the Russians fighting against Putin, a chain reaction could start throughout the army.
On March 13, Russian volunteers continued their raid on Russian territory, calling on residents of the Kursk and Belgorod regions to evacuate.
Later, Alexei Baranovsky said that in the Kursk region, fighting was already taking place outside the village of Tetkino.
Yevhen Dykyi, a former platoon commander of the Aidar battalion, believes that Russians may move combat-ready units from the Kupyansk direction to the Kursk region.
On the morning of March 14, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of allegedly attacking two regions with 14 drones. Later, Belgorod reported a second attack.
On March 14, a volunteer of the Freedom of Russia Legion, Alexei Baranovsky, said that the Russian army had moved reserves to Belgorod and Kursk regions and was actively trying to displace Russian volunteer units. The Freedom of Russia Legion warned the locals about the beginning of active attacks.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt 'elections' in Russia and promised retaliation.
On March 16, the Russian Volunteer Corps denied fake information about the alleged destruction of the group. The RDC also said they captured more than two dozen Russian soldiers.