Ukraine has been accused of a “major provocation” by Russian President Vladimir Putin following an attack on Russia’s Kursk region. The fighting began on Tuesday, leading to a state of emergency being declared in the southeastern region. Acting governor Alexey Smirnov stated that there have been 31 civilians injured, including six children, and five people killed as Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, breached the border.
Putin condemned the attack, calling it a provocation by the Kyiv regime. Witnesses reported fleeing border areas in cars under drone fire, with the town of Sudzha, home to 5,000 people, being described as “on fire.” The extent of the damage and the depth of the Ukrainian advance remain unclear, with reports suggesting that Ukrainian forces may have advanced as much as 10km (6.2 miles) inside Russia.
Russian forces have reportedly halted an attack by up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers and are working to push them back to the border. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention the events in Kursk in his address, and the General Staff did not include it in their daily battlefield update. Meanwhile, fighting has intensified in the Sumy region, leading to the evacuation of around 6,000 people.
In response to the incursion, the United States sought an understanding from Ukraine. The US National Security Council confirmed that there had been no advance knowledge of the attack and reiterated that US-supplied weaponry to Ukraine could only be used to target imminent threats just across the border. The US State Department criticized Russia for calling it a provocation, pointing out that Russia had violated Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The battles in Sudzha come as Russia claims to have made advances along the front line in Ukraine’s east, taking 420 square kilometers of territory since June 14. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, with pro-Kyiv forces, including Russian volunteers fighting on Ukraine’s side, making brief incursions into Russia. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to clash in the region.