Photo: Vladimir VELENGURIN
Theroboronists from the Kursk and Belgorod border regions began to hand over weapons. This was reported by the governors of these regions.
Kursk Governor Roman Starovoit said that 300 weapons will be distributed in the near future. And that in the Kursk region there are now 2,000 members of voluntary people’s squads.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that in addition to machine guns, UAZ vehicles and anti-drone weapons would be delivered to the militia.
Given the continuous shelling and threats of attacks by Ukrainian saboteurs in the border areas of these regions, the arming of the squads of the local population is an important and long-awaited event. Thousands of men here volunteered to join the militia and even received combat training. Now they have found a way to give them weapons.
I saw how the Theroboronists were being trained in the Kursk region, talked with the militias of the Belgorod region – they are all motivated people who understand the danger of the situation and the fragility of the border. Local residents can help protect their homeland.
To give weapons – the people demanded – to determine the state of the militias and the procedure of action in case of a breakthrough of the terrorists.
But there were those who doubted. It is impossible to give weapons to civilians, it is not known what consequences this will bring, they said. Who will be responsible if rifled barrels fall into illegal circulation? What if a wildfire starts?
Does the distribution of weapons to civilians mean that the authorities have begun to take the militias seriously?
I called my comrades in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, and this is what I heard:
– This is so cool! The boys are happy, hugging each other. We have 3 thousand militias! But they were all at best with weapon models. When there were breakthroughs of Ukrainian saboteurs in the Grayvoronsky district, we could not do anything, there was nothing to deal with them! Now they have started issuing machine guns. Great news!
“As long as it doesn’t turn out to be a showcase,” replied another colleague. – If they recruit the militia as hunters, they will give out Saiga carbines and that’s it. And the training? If you arm people, you must train them, otherwise, you will have to put guards on them.
In general, the news is encouraging. But it is important that the process continues to go in the right direction. Not for show. Armed militias are another line of defense. We need to make this line strong and effective.
