In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, reports have emerged of Ukrainian troops engaging in intense combat on Russian soil. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned these actions as a “large-scale provocation” by the Kyiv regime.
Addressing the Cabinet on Wednesday, Putin outlined the severe nature of the attacks. “The Kyiv regime is conducting indiscriminate shooting from various types of weapons, including missiles, at civilian buildings, residential houses, and ambulances,” Putin said. His remarks reflect the gravity of the situation and the Russian government’s commitment to responding to this aggression.
The latest cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region marks one of the largest attacks of its kind and involves regular Ukrainian forces for the first time. This has prompted significant alarm within the Kremlin and has challenged President Putin’s efforts to protect the Russian public from the repercussions of the ongoing conflict.
In response to the attacks, Putin has directed several civilian agencies to assist the affected residents in the Kursk region. “Following my conversation with the acting governor of the Kursk region, instructions have been given to several civilian agencies to provide the necessary assistance to the region’s residents. I also ask the government to address this matter immediately,” Putin stated at the briefing.
The initial reports of the incursion came from Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of the Kursk region, who detailed “attempted border breakthroughs” in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky districts. Smirnov also reported that Ukrainian forces had targeted Russian border units and civilian areas in Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya. Russian authorities confirmed that five civilians had been killed and 24 injured, with several thousand others evacuated from the conflict zones.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that clashes between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops are ongoing in the border areas. According to Chief of the Russian Army’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov, approximately 1,000 Ukrainian troops were involved in the attack, with 100 reported killed and 215 injured. Major General Apty Alaudinov asserted that the Ukrainian forces would be pushed back to the border, emphasizing the determined response of the Russian military.
Despite the severity of the situation, Kyiv has yet to officially comment on the reported events inside Russian territory. In recent weeks, Russian forces have made notable progress on the eastern front and are actively engaged in an offensive towards Kharkiv, with many supply lines running near the conflict zone.
The potential for this incursion to prompt Moscow to reallocate resources from other fronts is a concern. Ukraine’s allies, notably the United States, have been cautious about the use of Western-supplied weapons for attacks within Russia. Nonetheless, Kyiv’s strategy appears focused on disrupting Russian bases and logistical operations.
In light of these developments, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak’s assertion that Russia has exploited its border regions for aggressive military actions against Ukraine reflects a broader context of escalating tensions. As Russia fortifies its position and responds decisively, the international community watches closely to gauge the future trajectory of this conflict.
