Russian Volunteer Corps, Freedom of Russia Legion report on successful operation in Belgorod region

On Wednesday, 24 May, the Legion of Freedom of Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps held a joint press conference in one of Ukraine's border regions. 

This was reported by the official Telegram channel of the Freedom of Russia Legion.

"Our struggle continues: the operation in the Grayvoron district was successful and its goal was achieved. The enemy was defeated, some of them fled in disgrace; we captured a large amount of equipment and took prisoners. We will not betray the idea of a free Russia, the hopes of Russians, and will bring truth and justice back to Russia. We will come again. Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Moscow – wait for us," the statement reads.

Rebels also reported that they had witnessed the unprincipledness and cruelty of the Russian troops - the artillery and aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces were targeting civilians.

The Legion Freedom of Russia and the Russian Volunteer Corps said they lost 2 people killed and 10 wounded.

"Contrary to the hypocritical statements of the propagandists who cannot win and therefore attribute huge losses to us. Eternal glory to the dead and honour to the living! We will return home: to Belgorod, Moscow and Vladivostok. Russia will be free!" the Legion writes.

• On May 22, the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps announced that they had liberated the settlements of Kozinka and Gora-Podol in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation as part of the creation of a demilitarized zone on the border with Russia, and that advanced units had entered Graivoron. A counterterrorism operation was introduced in the region and nuclear munitions are being evacuated.
• Late in the evening of May 22, Russian media reported that administrative buildings in Belgorod had been hit by drones, including the FSB and the Interior Ministry, and that drones had also been reported to have hit administrative buildings in Graivoron and Borisovka.
• On the morning of May 23, the governor of the Belgorod region of Russia, Gladkov, said that residents of the Graivoron district should not return home yet. Peskov is 'deeply concerned.'
• Russia claims to have killed 70 participants in the events in the Belgorod region and driven the rest into Ukraine. The Russian Volunteer Corps says it has no casualties.

• State Department said on May 23 that US is skeptical of claims on American-supplied weapons used in Belgorod region 

• No Ukrainian soldier took part in the May 22 infiltration operation in the Belgorod region – The New York Times

• Military expert Serhiy Zgurets said that Belgorod cross-border raid destroyed Russian myth on their ability to protect border regions