Pro-Kiev pro-Russian militias and the Russian Freedom Corps have asked the governor of the Belgorod region to meet with and retrieve the captured Russian soldiers.
Fighting continues in southern Russia after militants launched further cross-border attacks from Ukraine, with the Kremlin saying it had targeted “terrorists” with artillery fire.
The governor of the besieged Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Sunday that clashes had broken out again in the same area of the border, and admitted for the first time that pro-Ukrainian forces had taken Russian prisoners of war during the invasion.
He said he was ready for talks to bring back “our comrades” and told militants he would meet for an exchange.
“Sabotage groups have come in. Fighting is taking place.” [the] Novaya Tavordyanka [border village]said Gladkov. “I hope they are all destroyed.”
Pro-Kiev pro-Russian militias and the Russian Freedom Corps earlier requested the Belgorod governor to meet with the fighters and retrieve the captured soldiers.
“The only thing that prevents me from negotiating with them is our comrades in their hands, maybe they are already dead,” Gladkov said.
Ukraine recently intensively shelled Russian settlements along its border, forcing thousands to flee to the regional capital of Belgorod.
Russian forces later claimed to have repulsed a “subversive group of Ukrainian terrorists” who tried to cross the border near the settlement.
“The enemy was shelled. They were scattered and withdrew,” the statement said.
Gladkov previously called on residents of the Shevekino border district to leave their homes because of the shelling.
“sent to the slaughterhouse”
Fighting around Novaya Tavordyanka follows last month’s dramatic Ukrainian incursion, forcing Russian forces to shell and airstrike the mainland. Border violations were claimed by anti-Kremlin nationalists.
Earlier, the nationalist group released a video addressing the governor. It claimed that the prisoners of war showed two “prisoners of war” who were called “simple soldiers sent into this war by your leaders.” One, believed to be injured, was on a drip in a hospital bed.
In a video posted on the Freedom of Russia Telegram channel, a man claiming to be the commander of the Russian militia said he would hand over the soldiers in exchange for a meeting with Governor Gladkov.
A statement posted with the video said: “Today until 5pm, you have the opportunity to communicate without weapons and bring home two Russian citizens who are civilian soldiers that you and your political leadership have sent to the massacre. There is.”
Three hours later, Gladkov appeared in a video message, agreeing to meet with the party if the soldiers were still alive.
“It’s hard for me to say, but they most likely killed them. But if they were alive, from 5 to 6 pm – Shevekino checkpoint. Safety guaranteed.” said Gladkov.
“Future of Russia”
Ukraine has consistently denied responsibility for attacks on mainland Russia, but Presidential Adviser Mikhail Podlyak said on Sunday that the situation in the border region “should be viewed as Russia’s future”.
Gladkov said on Sunday that Ukrainian forces continued to shell the area overnight after two people were killed the night before and hundreds of children fled the border.
The attack on the Belgorod area comes amid Kiev’s announcement that it is preparing a major counteroffensive against Russian forces.
In a video released on Sunday, the Ukrainian military appeared to be calling on its soldiers to remain silent about the plans, saying no announcement had been made about the launch of the long-awaited counteroffensive.
