Russian regular troops likely push back Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion from Belgorod region. Ukrainian raids in Russia are just fantasies — ISW

This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War.

Russian army might have pushed pro-Ukrainian forces back 

The Russian Federation announced on May 23 the conclusion of the counter-terrorist operation in the Belgorod region, claiming victory over the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion that support Ukraine in the region. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that border troops of the Russian Western Military District successfully repelled the attack and expelled all "saboteurs" from the Belgorod region. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov urged evacuated residents to delay their return to border settlements.

Later, the authorities admitted evacuating 100 civilians from 9 border settlements in the Belgorod region, despite Gladkov initially denying the official evacuation. Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin would not convene an emergency Security Council meeting specifically for the Belgorod raid, but the situation would be discussed during the scheduled Security Council meeting on May 26, possibly to demonstrate confidence in the Russian Federation's capability to handle the situation.

There is speculation that on May 23, Russian forces may have pushed back the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion, potentially reaching the border town of Kozinka and even extending beyond Russian territory.

Footage circulating in Russian news media shows Russian forces shelling Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion positions near the Kozinka border checkpoint at night, followed by claims in the morning that the Russian army had recaptured Kozinka and the border checkpoint.

Some Russian sources allege that the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion forces were entrenched in the church in Kozinka, but preliminary reports suggest that Russian forces may have driven out pro-Ukrainian forces by the evening. Footage released on May 23 shows the aftermath of shelling on Podol Mountain, located approximately 6 km northwest of Kozinka, and shows Russian infantry patrolling between Graivoron (approximately 7 km northwest of Kozinka) and Gora-Podol. This suggests that the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion personnel no longer occupy or have ever occupied positions in the settlement.

However, it is unclear whether the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion captured any villages on May 22 or 23, ISW said. Legion leadership stated that their personnel continued to operate in the Belgorod region on May 23.

Ukraine’s raids in Belgorod region are Russia’s fantasies

Russian claims of Ukrainian raids on the Kharkiv-Belgorod border on May 23 have not been confirmed by ISW.

According to some Russian sources, Ukrainian forces, including the Azov Regiment, Kraken, other AFU units, as well as Russian Volunteer Corps personnel, allegedly conducted additional raids in the Gorkovsky, Bogun-Gorodok, and Tsapovka areas, successfully crossing the border south of Shchetinovka.

However, other Russian sources have denied these claims about the Ukrainian Deep Reconnaissance Group crossing the Kharkiv-Belgorod border. These sources have also expressed concerns about the perceived threat of further raids, asserting that Ukrainian forces have amassed reserves less than 10 kilometers from the border.

One self-proclaimed military commander asserted that the Ukrainian units participated in a raid in Bryansk Oblast (Russian Federation) on May 22. Nevertheless, ISW experts have yet to receive confirmation of this alleged raid.

Analysts have observed that the Russian response, both in the information space and in reported military actions, appears to be disproportionately large compared to the scale of the small and localized initiative. The reported raid, supposedly carried out by only 13 armored vehicles, did not need significant reinforcements or the involvement of a colonel general to repel.

• On May 22, the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps declared the liberation of Kozinka and Gora-Podol settlements in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, as part of their efforts to establish a demilitarized zone along the border. Their advance units also entered Grayvoron. In response, a counter-terrorist operation regime was implemented in the region, and the evacuation of nuclear ammunition is underway.

• On the evening of May 22, Russian media reported attacks on administrative buildings in Belgorod, including the FSB and Ministry of Internal Affairs buildings. Drone strikes on administrative buildings in Grayvoron and Borisovka were also reported.

• By the evening of May 23, the counter-terrorist operation regime was lifted in the Belgorod region. Subsequently, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have allegedly destroyed 70 "terrorists," forcing the remaining ones back into Ukrainian territory. On the other hand, the Russian Volunteer Corps asserted that they suffered no losses.