Russian Rebels' Plan to Topple Putin: 'Guns, Grenades and Armored Vehicles'

The pro-Ukraine Russian rebel formations fighting their way across the shared border between the two warring nations want the ongoing operation to spark an uprising against President Vladimir Putin, one volunteer has said.

The Freedom of Russia Legion, Siberian Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK)—all volunteer paramilitary groups operating under the umbrella of the Ukrainian military—on Tuesday launched a two-pronged incursion into Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Amid fierce fighting, Alexei Baranovsky—a volunteer of the Freedom of Russia Legion who goes by the call sign "Lutik"—told Newsweek that the rebel fighters intend to eventually "march on Moscow." The goal, he said, is "the ensuing liberation of Russia from Putin. We may not be able to pull it off now, but that is our overarching mission."

The latest cross-border assaults come as Putin prepares for this weekend's presidential election, a carefully managed contest he is sure to win. The vote will also be held in the areas of Ukraine occupied by Moscow's forces in their full-scale invasion since February 2022. Baranovsky said the rebel operation has been timed intentionally.

"We may not be able to stop the federal election, but we can disrupt the regional votes, so we are doing what we can by bringing this 'air of freedom' to at least some parts of the country," he explained, describing the coming poll as "Putin's latest push to usurp power."

Russia's Defense Ministry reported attacks by "Ukrainian terrorist groups" at three locations along the border, and said all assaults were repelled.

Ballots and Bullets

Putin's re-coronation will come as no surprise, but it will represent another blow to Russia's embattled opposition movement. The Kremlin has used its war on Ukraine to further choke the Russian public and civil society of any hint of dissent.

The death of unofficial opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony in February served as a grim reminder of the fate awaiting Russians bold enough to stand against Putin's rule.

Zhanna Nemtsova—the daughter of murdered anti-Putin politician Boris Nemtsov—told Newsweek soon after Navalny's death was announced that Russian pro-democracy activists are "a species close to extinction."

Baranovsky said the rebel formations want to revitalize the cowed domestic opposition.

"As citizens of Russia, we decided that we also want to take part in this election—and this is our way of getting our voices heard," he said. "We are voting for an armed resistance to the Putin regime, for an uprising, a revolution."

"We lead the anti-opposition by example, showing that they are not alone, showing them that there are people ready to fight, not just shining flashlights into the sky [a reference to the "flashlight flashmob" protests of opposition groups] but through bearing arms, with guns, grenades and armored vehicles, of which we have plenty. And we call on all of them to join us in this fight against Putin."

The ongoing operation is the most ambitious yet for the Russian fighters now loyal to Kyiv. "While we've had some joint operations in Belgorod, and some were separate, it is true that today we formed a truly united front for the first time," Baranovsky said, referring to the Legion's coordination with the other two formations.

"In this, we are also showing the fragmented Russian opposition that it is possible to unite. In fact, we are the true Russian opposition."

"This marks a new milestone for the resistance movement and in the coming months we will continue to set more complex goals for our missions, so hopefully one day we will reach the main one—the destruction of Putin and his regime."

'Army of Killers'

This week's incursions are not the first. Attacks ran through 2023, with a May campaign forcing the evacuation of thousands of Russians from the border region and the dispatch of military reinforcements. Both sides should have a good idea of what the other can bring to bear. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense ministry by email to request comment.

"Their ways aren't especially surprising for us," Baranovsky said. "We've seen their blockheaded 'meat assault' methods in Bakhmut and Avdiivka. It's the only military strategy they have, so if you can deploy some ingenuity and forward-planning, you can catch them by surprise."

"Their other strategy is to fire indiscriminately in the hope of a lucky shot. That includes civilian areas: they spared no civilians in Ukraine, and now they are sparing no Russians."

"So, if they think our troops are located in some village in Belgorod, they will start firing at us with grenade launchers and artillery, even after we are long gone. It's a deadly strategy from an army of killers. And that is exactly what we are fighting against."

"Our main criterion for success is minimizing losses on our side," Baranovsky said. "We are not Putin's cannon fodder, we value the life of every single fighter, so all the operations are very thoroughly planned and executed."

"Contrary to what the Russian Telegram channels may say, so far, we've not taken a single loss in this outing."