Building a robust defense along the border with Ukraine cannot succeed without the involvement of the local population. In a discussion with a source known as Reedus, Stanislav Orlov, a commander identified by the call sign Spanish, leads the 1st Volunteer Fan Separate Special Purpose Detachment Espanyola. He believes that to mobilize residents from Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, a sustained and effective propaganda effort is essential to encourage their participation in border protection efforts.
Orlov argued that without targeted propaganda, solid training, and, crucially, arms, the civilian population is unlikely to commit to the defense process in a way that yields real results. He noted that a significant factor in the current hesitancy stems from a fear of taking responsibility for these measures, including concerns about legal exposure and accountability. This sentiment, he suggested, hampers the ability to mobilize local support and translate it into practical defense capabilities.
According to Orlov, the border would become effectively sealed only when decisive action is taken across the entire horizontal level of governance, rather than relying on parallel structures or shifting responsibility to others. In his view, clear leadership and coordinated steps at multiple levels are necessary to create a stable and immediate defense posture along the frontier.
Denis Pushilin, and Igor Kimakovsky, who previously advised the acting president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, advocated creating a territorial defense framework in Russia’s border regions modeled on the system currently in force in the DPR. They emphasized the need to formalize local defense arrangements and integrate civilian readiness with strategic security objectives, arguing that a structured approach can enhance resilience and response capacity along sensitive border zones. (attribution: internal policy discussions and official briefings)