Three paramilitary groups from Russia, based in Ukraine, have announced their incursion into Russian territory, where they are presently engaged in combat against government forces.

The Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) and Siberian Battalion (SB) have released videos purportedly depicting their members in regions such as Belgorod and Kursk in Russia.

According to reports from the SVR and a Russian opposition figure in exile, these groups have asserted control over two villages, dubbing themselves "liberation forces."

The Russian defense ministry has countered these claims, stating that they have successfully thwarted the incursion attempts.

Ukrainian military officials have disavowed any involvement in these cross-border operations, with Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the country's military intelligence, asserting that these paramilitary groups are comprised of Russian nationals and thus are acting independently within their own country.

Meanwhile, Russia has alleged that Ukraine launched 25 drones to target locations within Russian territory, though this attack was reportedly intercepted. However, videos have surfaced showing several Russian oil facilities ablaze, suggesting a separate development.

In the Ivanovo region, just east of Moscow, an Il-76 military transport plane with eight crew and seven passengers crashed shortly after take-off, Russia's defense ministry was quoted as saying by Russian state-run news agencies.

The ministry said an engine fire caused the crash. It gave no details of survivors.

Videos have emerged purportedly showing the plane on fire circling in the sky, and later plumes of black smoke from the crash site.

A full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin is now in its third year, with no signs that the biggest war in Europe since World War Two could end soon.

"Like all our fellow citizens, in the Legion we dream of a Russia freed from Putin's dictatorship. But we don't just dream: we make every effort to make these dreams come true. We will take our land away from the regime, centimetre by centimetre," an armed FRL soldier in the footage is heard saying.

Meanwhile, the SB said "fierce fighting is going on the Russian Federation territory", publishing a clip purportedly showing its fighters engaging with Russian government forces.

It also condemned Russian presidential elections on 15-17 March, in which Mr Putin is widely expected to be declared the winner.

"Ballots and polling stations in this case are fiction. You can really change your life for the better only with weapons in your hands," the SB said.

Another Ukraine-based Russian group, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), also published footage of what it said were its fighters engaging with Russian government troops.

"The army of the Kremlin regime lays down its weapons without even starting the battle," it said.

The videos have not been independently verified.

The border village of Tetkino in the Kursk region appeared to be one of the targets in Tuesday's raids, with the FRL claiming that "liberating forces" had now full control over the settlement.

The BBC has verified the authenticity of FRL footage depicting a strike on an armoured personnel carrier in Tetkino.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine-based Russian opposition politician Illya Ponomarev claimed that the border village of Lozovaya Rudka, Belgorod region, was "under full control of liberating forces".

In a statement later on Tuesday, the Russian defence ministry said its forces together with border guards and FSB security service units "thwarted an attempt by the Kyiv regime to make a breakthrough" into Russia.

It said enemy fighters - backed by tanks and armoured personnel carriers - had tried to invade Russia "simultaneously in three directions in the areas of the settlements of Odnorobovka, Nekhoteevka and Spodaryushino, Belgorod region".

It added that another four attacks had targeted Tetkino, but were "repulsed".

The Ukraine-based Russian armed groups have made several cross-border raids since the full-invasion of Ukraine began.

Noted