By the second day of the offensive, troops had moved 10 kilometres into the Kursk region. Reuters
Amid a significant cross-border assault on Russia's Kursk region by Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that Moscow must face the consequences of its invasion of Ukraine. Addressing the nation, Zelensky stated, "Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done,” though he did not directly mention the ongoing Ukrainian offensive.
The situation began to unfold dramatically early Tuesday morning when Russia reported that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles, had entered its territory. This attack is being described as one of the largest incursions into Russian soil since the start of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labelled the event a "major provocation."
Details about the offensive remain scarce, as Ukrainian officials have been reticent about the specifics of the operation. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that Ukrainian forces are being targeted by airstrikes, rockets, and artillery, and that additional Russian troops have been deployed to the area.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has begun monitoring the Kursk nuclear power plant due to concerns over safety amid the conflict. Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian armoured vehicles had advanced up to 10 kilometres into the Kursk region within the first two days of the incursion. This has put Russia's military leadership under intense scrutiny, with some pro-war Telegram channels criticizing the Russian military for its lack of preparation.
In a video call with President Putin, Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov indicated that efforts are underway to evacuate residents using buses and trains. However, these efforts have been hindered by ongoing Ukrainian shelling. Smirnov's Telegram updates continue to warn locals about potential missile strikes.
Additionally, on Friday morning, the Russian defence ministry claimed it had intercepted and destroyed 75 UAV missiles that were flying over various regions, including Kursk. Early reports also mentioned a fire at a military airfield in the Lipetsk region, though the cause and connection to the Kursk conflict remain unclear.
Russia estimates that around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have crossed into its territory. Reuters
In response to the situation, local leaders in neighbouring regions, both in Russia and Ukraine, have advised residents to evacuate for safety. Ukrainian officials in the Sumy region and Russian officials in Belgorod have both reported attacks and advised evacuations.
The unexpected scale of the Ukrainian offensive has caught key allies of Ukraine off guard. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced that the US is seeking more information to understand Ukraine's objectives with this latest move. This is not the first time Ukrainian forces have crossed into Russian territory; similar incidents occurred last year and earlier this year, though they were repelled.
On a related note, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko reported that Ukrainian forces have taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a critical point for natural gas transit from Russia to the EU. Despite the conflict, gas flow through Sudzha has continued. The Russian National Guard has reinforced security around Kursk’s nuclear power plant, which is approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Sudzha.
With ongoing clashes and strategic movements, the conflict continues to evolve, affecting both military strategies and civilian safety in the region.
