Now Putin's soldiers start looting their own country: Video shows troops taking advantage of chaos caused by Ukraine's Kursk invasion to ransack mobile phone shop

Vladimir Putin's forces have been caught red handed going on a looting spree in their own country amid the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk. 

The Russian 'defenders' took advantage of the chaos caused by the stunning cross-border incursion launched by Kyiv's forces almost two weeks ago to steal goods from a mobile phone shop.

A quartet of Moscow's soldiers are seen helping themselves in a MegaFon store in frontline town of Glushkovo in shocking security footage.

At least three of the four are thought to be from the elite Chechen assault force Akhmat, which was partially responsible for defending the border in Kursk, it is believed.

They smash their way in by breaking a window before spending more than five minutes breaking into display cabinets and filling their pockets with tech. 

The group is later seen attempting to break into a storeroom where they suspect more phones are hidden.

They repeatedly batter the lock with a fire extinguisher before kicking the door to no avail.

Eventually, they manage to bust a hole in the door and appear close to opening it when one of the group spots the security camera.

The CCTV footage draws to an abrupt close when one of the fighters smashes the camera.

Regional government official Roman Alekhin claimed all of the intruders were from the Akhmat unit loyal to Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman ruler of Chechnya.

The looters 'have names and surnames' and should be held personally accountable, said Alekhin.

He said: 'Every scum who wears the uniform of a Russian serviceman, took the oath, and then stole or destroyed the property of a Russian citizen, regardless of nationality, must be held accountable according to wartime laws.

''Two of the scoundrels are already being held accountable. 

'They not only stole but also disgraced the uniform of our fighters – our Russian military.'

'One can only hope that there are commanders who will help restore order,' he concluded. 

As disgust over the Russian troops' behaviour mounts, Ukraine's forces continue to press their advantage in Kursk. 

The bridge over the Seym River in Zvannoe - close to the Ukrainian border - was seen as a key supply route for Russian forces attempting to beat back the Ukrainian advance before it was destroyed by Kyiv's troops in a stunning strike yesterday. 

Nearly two weeks into the incursion into Russia, the BBC reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the aims of the military incursion into Kursk included the creation of a 'buffer zone' to stop Russian attacks. 

But Zelensky claimed the UK's support for the war has 'slowed down' as he called for a removal of restrictions on donated weapons being used inside Russian territory this weekend.

A UK Government spokesperson said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer maintains 'unwavering' support for Ukraine, and that position has not changed since incursion into Russia.

The Government has previously stated its support for Ukraine's 'clear right of self-defence against Russia's illegal attacks' provided they are in accordance with international humanitarian law, while maintaining that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces have been engaged in a military incursion into Russia's Kursk region since August 6, the aim of which Mr Zelensky revealed on Sunday evening is to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border.

To date, the UK has pledged £12.5 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which £7.6 billion is for military assistance. This includes £3 billion for military assistance in 2024/25.

In a post to X, Mr Zelesnky said: 'We are doing everything possible to provide our warriors with the necessary weapons and reinforcements.

'It is crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands.

'Long-range capabilities are the answer to the most critical strategic questions of this war.

'The bravery of our soldiers and the resilience of our combat brigades compensate for the lack of essential decisions from our partners.

'We could decisively deprive the occupiers of any ability to advance and cause destruction if our long-range capabilities were sufficient.'

He added: 'Throughout this war, we've seen the UK demonstrate true leadership - in arms, politics, and support for Ukrainian society. This has saved thousands of lives, reflecting the strength of the UK.

'Unfortunately, the situation has slowed down recently. We will discuss how to fix this because long-range capabilities are vital for us. The whole world sees how effective Ukrainians are - how our entire nation defends its independence.'

A Government spokesperson said the Prime Minister 'has been clear that UK support for Ukraine is unwavering'.

They said: 'That is why he committed to £3 billion a year of support to Ukraine, for as long as it takes, within his first week in office.

'Further lethal aid was also accelerated to Kyiv within hours of this Government being elected, bolstering the £12 billion of UK support already pledged, and ensuring the vital military equipment reaches Ukrainian soldiers on the front line.'

The new package of lethal aid for Ukraine includes a quarter of a million of 50-calibre ammunition, 90 anti-armour Brimstone missiles, 50 small military boats, 40 de-mining vehicles, and 10 AS-90 artillery guns.

Ukrainian forces have also received 61 bulldozers and support for previously gifted AS-90s, from the UK.