The Russian Territorial Defense Forces at the border with Ukraine are starting to be armed

2 August, 2023 Russian Territorial Defense Forces in the Kursk region. August 2023, Russia. Frame from the video of the Russian media

In the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the fighters of the local Territorial Defense Forces are starting to be armed. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, announced that the Kremlin is confident in the reliable control of the issue of weapons to the soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces. The president's spokesman also added that the arming of such units is a "necessary measure" amid the "attacks from Ukraine."

On July 25, the Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a law that allows governors to create their analogues of military companies, and then transfer weapons to them. In the Kursk region, the issue of providing the Territorial Defense Forces with combat weapons was being discussed for several months.

Russian Territorial Defense Forces in the Kursk region. August 2023, Russia.

Frame from the video of the Russian media

The first batch has already arrived at the base. In the near future, local authorities plan to increase the number of weapons to 300 units. Also, units formed in the region provide "additional assistance" to the military, the Russian Guard, the police, and border guards.

In turn, local Territorial Defense Forces are starting to be armed in the Belgorod region. "We have come to the point that we are solving the issue of providing weapons for our Territorial Defense Forces within the framework of the current legislation. The situation continues to be difficult," the governor of the region reported.

Drones and anti-drone guns of Russian Territorial Defense Forces in the Belgorod region.

August 2023, Russia. Frame from the video of the Russian mass media

It is noted that submachine guns, anti-drone rifles, and UAZ cars were issued to the region's volunteers of the Territorial Defense Forces. About three thousand people are in the formation.

Such actions are presumably related to the fact that at the beginning of the year, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion, fighting on the side of Ukraine, carried out several raids in the Belgorod region.

Volunteers of the Russian Volunteer Corps declared that they are the only authority in the Russian settlement of Novaya Tavolzhanka.

A frame from a video from the RVC Telegram channel

The largest one occurred at the beginning of June, when the soldiers of these formations operated on the territory of the region for several days.