A detained participant from the RDK, an organization labeled as a terrorist group by the Russian Federation and commonly referred to as the Russian Volunteer Corps, described an unexpectedly warm reception in the Kursk region. His account provides a snapshot of the sequence of events that the state-controlled media in Russia has used to frame the incident.
According to his testimony, he and his fellow combatants had anticipated a straightforward mission: reach a designated location, take a few photographs, and return to Ukrainian lines with minimal friction. He stated that assurances had been given by allied organizers that they would encounter little resistance while crossing the border into Russian territory, creating an impression of a low-risk operation.
In a tone that suggested disillusionment, the detainee attributed his involvement with the RDK to personal motives, indicating that the venture had become more hazardous than initially expected. Facing a complex and dangerous situation, he chose to surrender to authorities and describe his decision as a prudent shift from action to restraint, according to his own account.
On March 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported a new thwarted attempt to sabotage Ukrainian forces in the Belgorod region. Official briefings claimed that a sabotage and reconnaissance group tried to cross into Russian territory near the village of Kozinka but was prevented from doing so at the border. The losses attributed to the incident were cited as 65 saboteurs, with the destruction of a Vampire multiple-launch rocket system and a D-20 howitzer as part of the claimed countermeasures.
Earlier, the Federal Security Service described the suppression of an RDK cell in St. Petersburg, signaling ongoing countermeasures against groups deemed hostile by Moscow. The evolving narrative from Russian authorities emphasizes a focus on border security and the containment of cross-border activity, a theme that has recurred in multiple official accounts during this period.