Dramatic moment anti-Putin troops ‘INVADE Russia in tank and drone assault across border before seizing village’

DRAMATIC video shows a tank storming across the border from Ukraine into Russia today as anti-Putin soldiers claim to have seized villages. Drones were reportedly used in the “invasion” as explosions rang out along the frontier in the Belgorod region – as local government issued a desperate “don’t panic” message to residents. A tank was filmed storming through the border checkpoint inside Russia Social media videos appeared to show soldiers and their armoured vehiclesTWITTER Russian authorities said a “Ukrainian Army Sabotage Group” crossed the border and they were “taking measures to eliminate the enemy”. The group, Freedom of Russia Legion, was formed in March 2022 to fight for Ukraine against Russians, and consists of defectors from the Russian army, Russian volunteers and others. Ukrainian intelligence said those involved in the border incursion were “solely Russian nationals”. In an unverified video, members of the anti-Russian legion behind the supposed invasion posed in front of a road sign. They claimed: “We have again crossed the border of the Russian Federation. Russia will soon be free. “The time to fight for the freedom of Russia has come. We want our children to grow up in peace and be free people… but that has no place in today’s Putin’s Russia.” The anti-Putin legion have claimed they’ve taken control of Kozinka, in the Belgorod region, but rumours of six other villages under drone and mortar fire have been reported. Smoke has been spotted in multiple locations near border checkpoints in the region, along with videos online appearing to show a Russian soldier dead inside of a checkpoint building. Videos of chaos around the border are allegedly actions from the anti-Putin Russian group “Freedom of Russia Legion”. One post showed a radio message urgently telling Belgorod citizens to evacuate the area. Despite the differing accounts of events, governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said: “No one is hurt, the evacuation from Shebensky district is a lie. “I urge you not to listen to enemies and not to panic.” Armoured vehicles with Ukrainian markings were also spotted near the border, further fuelling rumours of an invasion by pro-Ukraine Russian saboteurs. In a post on Telegram, the Freedom of Russia Legion shared a photo of a “free Russia” flag on a bridge. They said: “The first flags of free Russia met the dawn over the liberated cities. Raise the flags in your cities too. Freedom is near!” The flag raised in the photo is the flag used by Russian anti-war protestors – many of which live in eastern Ukraine – and is also displayed on the Freedom of Russia Legion’s Telegram channel. The legion’s Telegram channel and website describes them as “free citizens of Russia” who are fighting against the “dictatorial regime” in Russia. Another video widely shared online appeared to show the soldiers running into the streets of the southern Belgorod region. This was followed by aerial shots of border towns showing smoke billowing from multiple buildings. A clip showed a helicopter flying and dropping what appear to be thermal weapons in the Rakitnoye village. Russian authorities said administrative building in the town of Golovchino was allegedly struck by a drone, and part of a rocket fell into the garden of a home in the village of Antonovka. In March, Putin accused Ukraine of launching a terror attack despite footage showing it was a stunt by anti-Kremlin Russians. @GERASHCHENKO_EN TWITTERThe troops involved claim to be anti-Putin and pro-Ukraine[/caption] TWITTERAnother image claimed to show a tank in the Belgorod region[/caption] TELEGRAMThe governor of the region appealed for calm[/caption] TWITTERPictures online appear to show explosions in villages near the border[/caption]