Attacks on Shebekino triggers criticism of Russian authorities – ISW report

The city of Shebekino, Belgorod region, Russia, June 1, 23
The city of Shebekino, Belgorod region, Russia, June 1, 23
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The report was dedicated to the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) operations in Belgorod Oblast as of June 1.

A raid is a limited assault that includes swift entry into enemy territory with planned-in-advance withdrawal.

What is known about the raid:

•          The FRL was near Novaya Tavolzhanka (3.5 km from the border with Ukraine) as it confirmed with geolocated footage posted on June 1. Fighters of the RDC and FRL attacked Russian positions nearby, as well as the area of Shebekino (7 km from the border). The RDC claimed the "second stage" of the operation and published footage with them fighting on the outskirts of Shebekino.

•          Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the border guard fighters and special services prevented "two motorized infantry companies reinforced with tanks" from invasion of Russia near Shebekino and Novaya Tavolzhanka. Not a single enemy combatant allegedly entered Belgorod Oblast, according to the regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, which is contradicted by geolocated footage taken in Russia and published by the FRL.

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•          A Russian military blogger claimed that 20 Russian border guards and 20 mobilized soldiers enforced by artillery and aviation fought the RDC and FRL near Shebekino. Other bloggers wrote that there were about a company of rebels with tanks and infantry vehicles.

Such reports about a company-size troops involved in the operation in Shebekino area prove that these incursions were, doctrinally, raids, the ISW experts believe.

Raid is a limited-objective, deliberate operation entailing swift penetration of hostile terrain, which is not intended to hold territory. Raids always end with a planned withdrawal, the U.S. military doctrine says.

In full accordance with this definition, the RDC and FRL didn't try to gain control over Belgorod Oblast neither on June 1, nor during the May 22 raid, despite their stated overarching goal of "liberation of Russia."

Russia's reaction to the RDC and FRL latest raid

The reaction of Russian officials and military bloggers to the recent limited raid in the Belgorod region shows ongoing anxiety within the Russian information space as to the war with Ukraine. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin is kept informed about the situation in Belgorod Oblast, and even awarded the Order of Courage to Vladimir Zhdanov, the head of the Shebekino administration, for "responding to the situation on the border" on June 1.

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Meanwhile, Governor Gladkov announced the evacuation of children from the Belgorod Oblast. The evacuation alongside the claims about "invasion attempt" of Russian territory, suggest that the Kremlin uses the raids in ongoing information operations aimed at portraying the war in Ukraine as existential for Russians and to gain support within the society for a protracted war.

However, some military bloggers criticized the authorities over the raids. Russian terrorist internationally wanted for downing of flight MH17 on July 17, 2014, Igor Girkin, said that wasting of Russian reserves in fall 2022 caused this situation, as well as failure to transition the economy to a war footing. Others denounced Putin for pretending that everything is okay in Shebekino, with more to suggest the raids to be performed in order to distract attention from other more important sections of the front, where a Ukrainian counter-offensive may be unfolding.

Other takeaways from the report:

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•          Russia continues its restless overnight attacks on Ukraine in general and Kyiv in particular on June 1. The ISW experts believe these air raids aimed to hinder Ukrainian counter-offensive capabilities, however their focus on Kyiv alone isn't likely to significantly impact Ukrainian military.

•          Chechen and regular military officials have started to harass Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin most likely to undermine his political power. Prigozhin, in turn, accuses the MoD of planning mistakes of the so-called "Ukrainian campaign."

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•          Russian troops attacked the area to the east from Kupyansk and to the northern west from Svatovo.

•          The intensity of Russian assault efforts in the area of Bakhmut remains low as of June 1. Russian troops performed limited attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.

•          No Russian attacks were registered at the southern part of the front.

•          The Russian parliament rejected the bill that would have excluded Russian PhDs and scientist from military service.

Read also: Russia urgently redeploys special services in Belgorod Oblast to deal with guerrillas

•          Russian occupying authorities announced "regional elections" on Sept. 10.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine