Russia has sent reinforcements, including tanks and rocket-launching systems, to the Kursk region as Ukrainian troops continue their surprise cross-border incursion. The Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk region is now in its fifth day, with reports indicating that Ukrainian troops are threatening to seize a regional town as they fight more than 10km inside Russia.
In response to the incursion, Russia has imposed a “counter-terrorism operation” regime in three regions – Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk – on the border with Ukraine. This allows authorities to restrict the movement of people and vehicles, use phone tapping, and take other security measures to ensure the safety of citizens and suppress the threat of terrorist acts.
The National Counter-Terrorism Committee announced the new security measures on Friday, stating that they were necessary to combat enemy sabotage and reconnaissance units. The authorities now have the power to enter private homes, restrict traffic and pedestrian movement, order temporary relocations, and monitor electronic communications.
The situation in the Kursk region remains tense, with Ukrainian troops reportedly seizing villages and threatening the town of Sudzha. A video has emerged showing armed Ukrainian soldiers claiming control over a key Russian gas facility in Sudzha, owned by Gazprom. However, the authenticity of the claims has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry has stated that its troops are repelling the Ukrainian invasion attempts and have sent reinforcements to the region. The UN nuclear agency has also urged both Russia and Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint as the fighting nears the Kursk nuclear power plant, emphasizing the need to prevent a nuclear accident with serious radiological consequences.
The situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides engaged in a tense standoff as the international community watches closely for any further developments.
