Groups of anti-Putin volunteer militias say they have crossed the border and have launched attacks on the streets of Russia.
The Ukraine-based militias claim they entered the Kursk and Belgorod regions on Tuesday.
Posting on Telegram, Ilya Ponomarev who acts as the political head of Freedom of Russia Legion - a Ukrainian-based paramilitary unit of Russian citizens - said raids had been carried out.
He said that his group had clashed with Russia forces in a "joint operation" with the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion.
Groups of anti-Putin volunteer militias say they have crossed the border and have launched attacks on the streets of Russia
Reuters
The Legion posted a drone clip online showing a vehicle being blown up as fighters take to the streets of village, Tyotkino.
However, Russia authorities said its forces had foiled the last attack.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, it had fought off attacks by "Ukrainian terrorist groups" that had tried to invade after "intensive shelling" of civilian sites.
It added: "All the Ukrainian attacks were repelled. The enemy was hit by aircraft, rockets and artillery."
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Kursk Governor Roman Starovoyt confirmed a shoot out had taken place in his region but full-scale invasion had been stopped.
Following the attacks, schools in the city of Kursk have turned to online working, according to the TASS news agency.
Previously, Ukraine-based militias have claimed to be behind attacks on Russia.
Spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, Andriy Yusov said that the Russian volunteer groups were not acting under orders from Kyiv.
The Legion posted a drone clip online showing a vehicle being blown up as fighters take to the streets of village, Tyotkino
Reuters
The offensive come days after Moscow was warned of a potential terrorist attack.
The alert was released on the same day as Russia reported FSB agents had thwarted a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Moscow by Islamic State terrorists.
However, Russian state-run media outlets said the militants involved in the planned attack had been killed.