Pro-Ukrainian paramilitaries claim they have seized a Russian town

MADRID, 5 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK, for its acronym in Russian) has announced on Monday that it has taken control of the town of Novaya Tavolzhanka, in the Russian region of Belgorod and located very close to the border with Ukraine.

"Novaya Tavolzhanka continues to not interest the regional or federal (Russian) authorities. The only power in this abandoned town is the RDK," the group highlighted in a message posted on its Telegram channel accompanied by a video of two individuals in uniforms military and the blue flag with the white emblem of the RDK.

"The fate of Russia does not concern those who live in the Garden Ring, in Barvija, Novaya Riga or Rublevka beyond the MKAD -Moscow Ring Road- and the regional authorities have not controlled the situation for a long time. That's why we act!", they have argued. "Glory to Russia! Glory to the RDK!" the message concludes.

According to statistics, Novaya Tavolzhanka has about 5,000 inhabitants but "now it is empty", according to one of the militiamen who appears in the video.

The Belgorod region has been the target of various attacks by Ukrainian forces since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, including two separate ground assaults in recent days that Moscow blames on Ukraine, although they have also been claimed by groups of anti-Kremlin militiamen.

Ukraine claims that both the RDK and the Russian Freedom Legion are paramilitary organizations made up of Russian citizens who support Ukrainian forces and are against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Volunteer Corps has had a certain relevance since it carried out an attack in the Briansk region of Russia in March. Its leader has ties to neo-Nazi organizations.