Russia Arms Volunteers Along Border Amid Increased Ukrainian Attacks

Since the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive has reached a new level in recent weeks, Russian military leaders have scrambled to create a new strategy in the ongoing war between the two nations.

This week, the Kremlin announced that citizens who volunteer to assist in defending the border will receive military weapons and equipment.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the drastic measures, which he said had become “necessary because of the attacks coming from the Ukrainian territory.”

While the policy received some pushback, Peskov asserted during a news conference that it was not only legal but pivotal in the Belgorod region, which has been hit by an increasing number of drone and rocket attacks in recent days.

There have also been at least two significant ground incursions by Ukrainian militants in the area. 

The region is reportedly being defended by roughly 3,000 members of the Territorial Defense, each of whom have reportedly received formal military training. 

Vyacheclav Gladkov, the region’s governor, indicated that approved citizen volunteers would receive access to equipment including rifles, anti-drone firearms, and armored vehicles. 

Some of the criticism of this strategy has involved concerns that the weaponry could land in the possession of Ukrainian forces, but Peskov downplayed such possibilities.

“Weapons are never outside of control,” he said. “All control mechanisms should certainly be provided for and carefully implemented. In fact, there is no doubt that this is the case.”

Aided by money, weapons, and other resources provided by the United States and other nations around the world, Ukraine has been increasingly able to fight back against invading Russian troops and even launch its own military offenses. 

Earlier this month, Kiev initiated a large attack to push Russian troops out of the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine and appeared to reclaim control in the village of Staromaiorske. 

Although drone attacks that hit targets in the Russian capital of Moscow were attributed to Ukraine, it had not officially acknowledged that its military authorized the strike. 

Nevertheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared: “Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia.”

In addition to the new policy in Belgorod, Russia has implemented broader changes to increase its military personnel. Two recent examples include increasing the age limit for military conscription from 27 to 30 and prohibiting individuals from leaving the country after they have been drafted for service.