Vladimir Putin: “What is happening in Ukraine is a tragedy, but it is also an inevitable consequence of the policies pursued by the West.”
— Russian President Vladimir Putin, justifying Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.”
— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejecting a U.S. offer to evacuate him from Kyiv in the early days of the invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that his military is carrying out a cross-border offensive into Russia’s western Kursk region, marking a significant shift in the conflict. In a video address late Saturday, Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces were taking the fight to “the aggressor’s territory,” acknowledging for the first time the operation inside Russian borders.
#FirstpostAmerica | Russia has declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region in the southwest of the country after a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops.@EKH2016 pic.twitter.com/ABnO1eViJW
— Firstpost (@firstpost) August 8, 2024
The surprise attack, launched on Tuesday, saw Ukrainian troops advance over 10 kilometers (approximately six miles) into Russian territory, marking the deepest incursion since Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
As the operation continues, Kyiv and several other regions in Ukraine came under heavy Russian drone and missile attacks early Sunday morning, according to local officials. Despite these retaliatory strikes, Zelensky praised Ukraine’s “warriors” for their efforts and noted that he had discussed the ongoing operation in Russia with the country’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is demonstrating its ability to “restore justice and apply the necessary pressure on the aggressor.”
Russia, so far, has struggled to stop the Ukrainian advance. More than 76,000 residents have been evacuated from the Kursk region, and a “counter-terror” regime has been implemented across three border regions—Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. This regime allows Russian authorities to impose restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles, as well as to engage in phone tapping and other surveillance measures.
Fighting continued into Saturday night, with Kursk Governor Aleksei Smirnov reporting early Sunday that there were injuries from what he described as a “treacherous” Ukrainian attack. He also mentioned that 13 people were injured late Saturday when debris from a downed Ukrainian missile struck a multi-story building in the regional capital, Kursk. Meanwhile, the governors of Voronezh and Belgorod, neighboring regions to Kursk, reported Ukrainian drone attacks overnight, though no injuries were mentioned.
Ukrainian soldiers show how they cross the border with the Kursk region of russia
In the footage there is a destroyed American M1132 ESV engineering vehicle based on the Stryker armored personnel carrier. In addition “dragons teeth” defensive fortifications can be seen. pic.twitter.com/JpAixL8L5P
— Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) August 9, 2024
In Ukraine, the conflict has also taken a tragic toll. A 35-year-old man and his four-year-old son were killed in the Kyiv region when a rocket fragment struck residential homes, according to emergency services on Sunday. Three others, including a 13-year-old child, were injured in the attack. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko urged residents to stay in shelters as air defense units responded to the attacks.
Ukraine’s incursion into Russia began Tuesday morning, involving up to 1,000 troops, tanks, and armored vehicles entering the Kursk region. Since then, Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured several villages and are threatening the regional town of Sudzha. A video released on Friday showed armed Ukrainian soldiers claiming control over Sudzha, including a key Russian gas facility owned by Gazprom. BBC Verify confirmed the video was filmed at the Gazprom facility near Sudzha, but the capture of the entire town has not been independently verified.
Russian military bloggers previously claimed that Sudzha remained under Moscow’s control. Another video, also verified by BBC, showed a 15-vehicle Russian convoy damaged and abandoned in the town of Oktyabrskoe, roughly 38 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The footage depicted Russian soldiers, some injured and others possibly dead, among the wreckage.
In response to the Ukrainian advance, Moscow has dispatched reinforcements, including tanks and rocket-launcher systems, to the Kursk region, asserting that Russian troops are “continuing to repel the attempted invasion.” However, these claims have yet to be independently verified.
WHAT DOES UKRAINE AIM TO ACHIEVE IN KURSK?
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Moscow has reported that at least one thousand Ukrainian troops crossed into Russian territory on Tuesday, marking the largest cross-border advance since the war’s onset. This… pic.twitter.com/SajHiQoQ3x
— Bangladesh News 24 (@bdnews24) August 10, 2024
The situation has also raised international concerns, particularly as the fighting approaches the Kursk nuclear power plant, one of Russia’s largest such facilities. On Friday, the UN nuclear agency urged both Russia and Ukraine to “exercise maximum restraint” to prevent a potential nuclear accident with serious radiological consequences. The power plant is located approximately 60 kilometers northeast of Sudzha.
Quotes
- Jens Stoltenberg: “This is the most serious security crisis we have faced in Europe for decades.”
— NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, addressing the significance of the conflict. - Joe Biden: “Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences.”
— U.S. President Joe Biden, condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - António Guterres: “The invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and goes against the Charter of the United Nations.”
— UN Secretary-General António Guterres, condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. - Ursula von der Leyen: “Ukraine is part of our European family. We want them in the European Union.”
— European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expressing support for Ukraine’s future in the EU. - Pope Francis: “In the name of God, stop this massacre!”
— Pope Francis, calling for an end to the violence in Ukraine.
Major Points:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces are conducting a cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
- Ukrainian troops advanced over 10 kilometers into Russian territory, making it the deepest incursion since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
- In response to the Ukrainian offensive, Russia has implemented a “counter-terror” regime in three border regions, allowing for restrictions on movement and increased surveillance.
- The fighting has intensified near the regional town of Sudzha, with Ukrainian forces reportedly seizing several villages and threatening key infrastructure, though some claims remain unverified.
- International concerns have risen as the conflict edges closer to the Kursk nuclear power plant, prompting the UN nuclear agency to call for restraint to avoid a potential nuclear accident.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
