On January 2, 2024 TASS reported that Russia shot down 17 Olkha rockets in the Belgorod region. According to the Russians, the attack on Belgorod was carried out directly under orders from Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky. The operation was launched by the [[Kraken regiment]]. The Kraken Regiment is a Special Forces unit under the command of the Main Directorate for (Military) Intelligence ([[GUR]]) headed by [[Kirill Budanov]]. The Kraken field commander responsible for the Belgorod operation, according to the Russians, was Sergey Velichko. Velichko previously served in the [[Azov brigade]], regarded by many as a [[neo-Nazi]] and [[antisemitic]] outfit known for its ruthlessness. The Kraken regiment is based in the north-east section of Kharkiv. This unit is not part of the Ukrainian army but is directly commanded by the GUR. | On January 2, 2024 TASS reported that Russia shot down 17 Olkha rockets in the Belgorod region. According to the Russians, the attack on Belgorod was carried out directly under orders from Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr Zelensky. The operation was launched by the [[Kraken regiment]]. The Kraken Regiment is a Special Forces unit under the command of the Main Directorate for (Military) Intelligence ([[GUR]]) headed by [[Kirill Budanov]]. The Kraken field commander responsible for the Belgorod operation, according to the Russians, was Sergey Velichko. Velichko previously served in the [[Azov brigade]], regarded by many as a [[neo-Nazi]] and [[antisemitic]] outfit known for its ruthlessness. The Kraken regiment is based in the north-east section of Kharkiv. This unit is not part of the Ukrainian army but is directly commanded by the GUR. |