Ukraine Forces Advance into Russian Territory, Seize Control of Kursk Border Town
In a surprising turn of events, Ukrainian forces have continued their advance into Russian territory, making significant gains in the border region of Kursk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that troops had advanced 1-2 km further into Kursk since Wednesday morning and had captured 100 Russian soldiers.
The incursion into Kursk marks Ukraine’s deepest push into Russian territory since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The exact amount of Russian territory seized remains uncertain, with conflicting statements from both countries.
Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in Kursk after the surprise attack last week. A commander of the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit claimed on Russian state-controlled TV that Russian forces had “completely blocked” the Ukrainian military from advancing. However, Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian troops were now fully in control of the Kursk border town of Sudzha.
Amid claims of territorial gains, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy emphasized that Ukraine was not interested in “taking over” Russian territory and called for a restoration of peace. Plans for a “security zone” in Kursk were outlined by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, including humanitarian aid for Russian civilians and evacuation corridors.
In response to the incursion, Russia declared a second state of emergency in the neighboring Belgorod region, where homes have been damaged in drone attacks and shelling. Moscow reported shooting down 117 drones overnight, targeting multiple regions including Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod.
US President Joe Biden commented on the operation, stating that it was creating a dilemma for Russian President Putin. European allies, including Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, voiced their support for Ukraine’s military operation in Kursk. Latvia’s foreign minister even stated that Kyiv had the right to use NATO weapons on Russian territory, a move previously described by Putin as a “red line.”
As the conflict escalates, the international community watches closely to see how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
