EDITORIAL — Expect more surprise moves ahead

There has been a bizarre development in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Last Tuesday a group claiming to be Russians aligned with Ukraine crossed the border into Russia’s Belgorod region and attacked several settlements, forcing civilian evacuations.

A spokesman for the group calling itself the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russians allegedly opposed to Russia President Vladimir Putin, said they wanted to “liberate our motherland from the tyranny of Putin.”

They were able to seize a checkpoint and even occupy some areas for a while. Responding Russian forces eventually forced the group back into the Ukrainian border, but not after two civilians had been killed.

There is a lot that remains conjecture about the incident. If they were indeed Russians then why did they attack from Ukraine? Are they somehow allied with Ukrainians? This was something that Kyiv denied, by the way.

If this was an attack by Russians against Russia then this is something that will become an issue to the Kremlin eventually.

We cannot imagine all Russians being happy with the way the country is prosecuting this war, let along chafing under the numerous sanctions that the international community has leveled Russia’s way because of this war.

While Putin, his allies, and the rich have ways of circumventing those sanctions, the ordinary Russians don’t. Is this finally the disgruntled Russians rising up against the administration?

Then again, Kyiv’s denial may just be a smokescreen

Ukraine has publicized it will soon start its offensive against Russian forces. Was this part of it? Was this something to draw the attention of Russia to one place while they make their moves elsewhere?

Some might even say this was another Russian false-flag operation to bolster their own morale. While this may be unlikely it is also not impossible considering what Russia has done so far in this war, aside from using children and making claims Ukraine was run by neo-Nazis who threatened Russia.

One thing is certain; this war is far from over and we are bound to see more “surprise” moves from either side, or other sides not yet seen