President Vladimir Putin has commanded Russian forces to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops from Russian territory following a significant cross-border offensive by Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk region. The conflict has led to the evacuation of over 120,000 people from the area.
Ukraine’s surprise attack, launched last Tuesday, has seen its troops capture more than 28 settlements in Kursk, marking the most notable cross-border assault on Russian soil since World War II. The Ukrainian forces have penetrated up to 12 kilometers into Russian territory, creating a new front stretching 40 kilometers long.
Putin condemned the offensive, accusing the attackers of attempting to create discord and destabilize Russian society. He emphasized that the primary objective of the Russian Defense Ministry is to remove Ukrainian forces from the invaded areas.
The fighting has resulted in at least 12 civilian deaths and 121 injuries. In response, the Kursk region has expanded its evacuation efforts to include the Belovsky district, and the neighboring Belgorod region is also evacuating its Krasnoyaruzhsky district.
The Kremlin, caught off guard by the scale of the assault, has mobilized reserve troops, tanks, aircraft, and drones to counter the Ukrainian advance. Despite these efforts, Russian forces have acknowledged that Ukraine has advanced up to 30 kilometers into some areas. Ukrainian officials claim their operation aims to stretch Russian defenses and inflict significant losses while destabilizing the region.
In response to the incursion, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down 18 Ukrainian drones, including 11 over the Kursk region. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has reported that over 44,000 residents from Kursk have sought financial aid, and emergency trains have been arranged to evacuate civilians to Moscow.
In Ukraine’s Sumy region, AFP journalists observed Ukrainian military vehicles involved in the operation. Local residents, including 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, have expressed support for the offensive, viewing it as a way to bring the realities of war to Russian soil.
Analysts suggest the assault might be a strategy to relieve pressure on Ukrainian forces elsewhere, although the intensity of Russian attacks in other areas has slightly decreased. Ukraine is reportedly preparing for potential retaliatory missile strikes targeting decision-making centers within the country.
