Ukraine war: More Russian border raids loom, Africa urged to ditch 'neutrality', drone attacks

Expect more Russian border raids, says head of anti-Putin force

The Russian commander of fighters that raided the Russian border region earlier this week has Said he will launch more attacks from Ukraine.

“I think you will see us again on that side,” said Denis Kapustin, self-described commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps on Wednesday. 

His threat came one day after Moscow said it had defeated a two-day attack in its southwest Belogrod region. 

Kapustin, who Was surrounded by 30 camouflaged soldiers, is notorious for his ultra-nationalist views. 

He said his force was battling “injustice” and “torture” under Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping they would inspire others to rise up. 

His Russian Volunteer Corps - along with the allied Freedom of Russia Legion - claimed responsibility for the border raid that began on Monday. 

Kyiv denies involvement, emphasising it was carried out by anti-Putin forces. Sharing images of damaged American military equipment, Moscow has accused the US of being involved - something Washington denies. 

Ukraine's top diplomat calls on Africa for support

Ukrainian Foreign Minister has urged some African countries to give up their neutrality towards the Russian invasion. 

"We are trying to explain to our African friends that neutrality is not the answer," said Dmytro Kuleba while visiting the African Union HQ in Ethiopia on Wednesday. 

"By being neutral towards Russian aggression against Ukraine, you extend that neutrality to border violations and mass crimes that may be happening near you," he explained, alluding to the presence of Russian mercenaries on the continent. 

In February, 22 of the 54 African Union member states abstained or did not vote in a UN resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. 

Across much of Africa, there is ambivalence towards the Russian invasion, with the sky-high food and energy prices that it has fuelled battering the continent.  

Though not translating into pro-Russian sentiment, painful historical memories of colonialism have meant there is "less sympathy for the Western position", Paul Rogers, Professor of International Security at the University of Bradford, told Euronews in March. 

Russia repels overnight drone attack

Six drones were shot down overnight in Crimea between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, said the local Moscow-backed governor Sergei Aksionov.

Crimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea that was annexed by Russia in 2014 - prompting Ukrainian and international condemnation.  

Beginning in July 2022, a string of explosions occurred in Crimea, destroying several planes at the Saky airbase and blowing up a crucial bridge between the peninsula and mainland Ukraine. 

Attacks and sabotage have been on the rise in Russia and Russian-occupied territory lately, as Kyiv says it is completing preparations to launch a counter-offensive.