Punching Back

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Pro-Ukrainian militias staged a cross-border attack on Russia on Tuesday, just hours after Kyiv launched a wave of drone attacks across the border, a notable escalation in the ongoing conflict as Russians prepare to head to the polls later this week, Agence France-Presse reported.

The pro-Kyiv volunteer fighters are Russians, who oppose the Kremlin, and claim to have breached the Kursk and Belgorod regions. One of these militias, the Freedom of Russia legion, took responsibility for the border breach, sharing drone footage showcasing the incursion.

Russia’s defense ministry said it successfully repelled multiple Ukrainian attempts to infiltrate the border. The confrontations led to intense aerial and artillery exchanges, resulting in shootouts and shelling in multiple regions.

While Moscow has portrayed the incursions as orchestrated by the Ukrainian military, Kyiv said they are independent actions by Russian citizens opposed to the Kremlin.

Separately, Kyiv orchestrated one of its largest strikes on key Russian energy sites since the war began two years ago. One of the targets included a major oil refinery owned by the Russian energy giant Lukoil in Kstovo that resulted in a major blaze.

The energy company announced the temporary suspension of operations at the refinery, one of Russia’s leading oil refineries with an annual capacity of 17 million tons.

Tuesday’s operations took place just days before Russia’s presidential election that analysts say will see long-time President Vladimir Putin win reelection, NBC News added.

They added that the strikes emphasized Kyiv’s resolve to challenge Moscow’s military aggression, as well as present a public relations challenge for the Kremlin, which has sought to project stability and unity ahead of the vote.