A state of emergency has been declared in the Kursk region of Russia following a rare and intense cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops.
The incursion, which began on Tuesday, has led to significant casualties and disruptions in the area.
Acting Regional Governor Alexei Smirnov announced the emergency measures to address the fallout from the attack, stating that they are necessary “to eliminate the consequences of enemy forces coming into the region.”
Russian officials have reported that at least five civilians have been killed and 31 others wounded, including six children, since the start of the offensive.
The Ukrainian assault involved up to 1,000 troops, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armoured combat vehicles, entering Russia near the town of Sudzha. The fighting, which took place in several villages throughout the day, prompted local authorities to issue evacuation orders for thousands of residents and cancel public events.
Air alerts were sounded across Kursk, with footage verified by the BBC showing fighter jets over the region and smoke rising from affected areas.
The Ukrainian government has not officially commented on the attack, and the full extent of the incursion remains unclear.
However, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko has claimed that Ukrainian forces have taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a critical facility for the transit of natural gas from Russia to the EU.
This claim, while not yet independently verified, has been the first indication from a Ukrainian official about the incursion.
Honcharenko stated on Facebook that the incursion aims to demonstrate to European and American allies that Russia is vulnerable and needs to be confronted.
He suggested that the operation would show that Russia could be challenged without leading to severe retaliation from President Vladimir Putin.
In an interview, Honcharenko emphasised that the incursion is part of a strategy to regain the initiative and reduce Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Ukrainian actions as a “major provocation,” accusing Kyiv of indiscriminately targeting civilian areas.
Russia’s Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, reported that Russian forces have halted the advance into Kursk and are working to repel Ukrainian troops from areas near the border.
Gerasimov claimed that Russian forces have inflicted significant casualties on the Ukrainian side, although these reports have not been independently verified.
Pro-war Telegram channels have reported ongoing and severe fighting around Sudzha and nearby Korenevo, suggesting that the situation may be more fluid than official Russian statements indicate.
The Russian National Guard has reinforced security at the Kursk nuclear power plant, located about 70 km northeast of Sudzha, amid concerns over potential threats.
In neighboring Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported injuries from Ukrainian air attacks and issued missile attack warnings throughout Tuesday. The escalation has heightened tensions in the region and drawn international attention to the conflict’s evolving dynamics.
As the situation continues to develop, the international community is watching closely to understand the broader implications of this unprecedented incursion into Russian territory.
Chioma Kalu
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