Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of orchestrating a "major provocation" following a significant cross-border attack on Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin reported intense clashes in the southwestern area, prompting local officials to declare a state of emergency.
Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, disclosed that the violence has continued for two days, resulting in injuries to 31 civilians, including six children. Smirnov also reported that five people were killed when Ukrainian forces, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, crossed the border.
The Russian Ministry of Health has not released details on military casualties. Putin denounced the Kyiv government’s actions as a major provocation during a meeting with Russian officials. The Kursk region, which borders Ukraine's Sumy region, has been heavily affected by the attacks.
Ukraine has not directly addressed the situation, but Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that Ukrainian forces were advancing northwest of the border town of Sudzha, located 530 kilometers southwest of Moscow. Russia has deployed air and artillery strikes to counter the assault and sent reinforcements to the area.
Reports from Russian television describe locals fleeing under drone fire, with some taking refuge in a church in Sudzha, which has reportedly been severely damaged. The full scale of the damage and the extent of Ukrainian advances remain unclear.
Military analysts and bloggers have reported varying accounts of the conflict’s progress. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Ukrainian forces might have moved up to 10 kilometers into Russian territory, attempting to advance along the Sudzha-Korenovo highway.
Russian General Valery Gerasimov claimed that Russian troops successfully repelled an attack by up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, a number significantly higher than earlier estimates. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not address the Kursk situation in his nightly address, while Ukraine's General Staff reported heightened fighting in the Sumy region, where approximately 6,000 people have been evacuated.
In response to the incident, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the United States was seeking clarification from Ukraine about the incursion but had no prior knowledge of the attack.
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