Russian militant groups LSR and RDK take two soldiers hostage in latest attack: Belgorod governor fails to show up for exchange

Actions across the border to Russia under the auspices of the militant exile Russian groups Legion for Freedom for Russia (LSR) and the Corps of Russian Volunteers (RDK) are happening more and more frequently, and with increased intensity:

At the weekend, the groups announced that they had taken two Russian soldiers hostage after an attack in Belgorod Oblast. In videos on social media, they show the two alleged prisoners:

One sits with a sad expression on a chair, wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by soldiers, while the other lies on a hospital bed and receives an IV.

– Murderers and fascists

The soldier who has the floor invites Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov to a prisoner exchange. Gladkov responded with a video in which, on the one hand, he called the other party “bandits, murderers and fascists”, but the proposal was equally met – as long as the soldiers were still alive.

LSR and RDK later reported that the other party did not appear:

– Quite predictably, Mr. Gladkov did not turn up to collect ordinary Russian soldiers. The superintendent in the Order of Courage did not have enough courage, writes RDK Telegram.

– A motley assembly

The militant groups have announced that the hostages will be handed over to the Ukrainian authorities. RDK has subsequently posted a new video with what are supposed to be further Russian prisoners of war/hostages.

These attacks on Russian soil are receiving increasing attention, both inside and outside of Russia. The Russians claim that the exiled Russian soldiers – whose unifying goal is to overthrow Vladimir Putin’s government – have been sent on orders from Ukraine, while Ukraine denies being directly behind it.

– Conscious strategy

Arne Bård Dalhaug, retired lieutenant general, former head of defense and former OSCE observer in Donbas, follows developments in the border area closely.

– Are LSR and RDK’s increasingly frequent actions across the border – now with hostage-taking – an expression of a betrayal of warfare?

– I wouldn’t call it that. Given the warfare the Russians are responsible for, it is not possible for more betrayal, says Dalhaug to Dagbladet, and continues:

– I rather think that this is a very deliberate strategy to make the Russians aware that they are not immune to the negative repercussions of the war.

He adds:

– I think it’s about the story of Russians trying to change the system – so doubt the system’s ability and competence to protect its citizens.

– No military threat

– How effective are LSR and RDK in the war?

– I do not consider them militarily effective – they pose no military threat to Russia. But they, on the other hand, pose a significant threat to Putin’s reputation, says Dalhaug and elaborates:

– They have received good help from military bloggers who have singled out the Russians as totally incompetent, and who reach a very large part of Russia’s population.

The former lieutenant general emphasizes the uniqueness of the militant groups’ actions inside Russia.

– This is the first time the Russians have been exposed to something like this; they tend to go around and kill people in other countries’ villages, says Dalhaug and continues:

– Admittedly, we have had other Chechen war and terrorist actions in the wake of it – where [den russiske etterretningstjenesten] The FSB has been suspected of being behind it. But we have not seen other countries’ forces inside Russian territory in recent times. This has a great propaganda effect.

– Can fight back

– Can we trust that these groups are what they say they are?

Attacking Russia: Paying tribute to Breivik

– I never trust anything – but here I call it probability preponderance.

– Do LSR and RDK’s actions pose a potential problem for Ukraine – if they were to commit abuses against civilians, for example?

– For now, they are wise enough not to do it; it would soften the propaganda effect, and could backfire on warfare. But after [de angivelige russiske krigsforbrytelsene i] Butsja has shown Russia that normal negotiations are no longer possible, Dalhaug replies and adds:

– Ukraine’s leadership has probably considered this part of the thinking, but dismissed it.