Ukraine’s top military leader, Oleksandr Syrskyi, says Ukrainian forces have taken control of 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory in their largest cross-border attack since the full-scale war began over two years ago.
This advance, which pushed up to 30 kilometers into Russia’s Kursk region, has boosted Ukrainian morale, according to analysts.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that the war Russia started is now coming back to its own land. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack a “major provocation” and ordered his forces to drive Ukrainian troops out of Russian territory.
The situation is tense, with over 121,000 people evacuated from the western Russian region to ensure their safety.
Local officials reported that 28 villages are under Ukrainian control, and at least 12 civilians have died. The BBC mentioned that some in Russia are questioning how Ukrainian forces managed to enter so deeply into Russian territory.
In a warning, a senior British military source, speaking to the BBC, expressed concerns that Russia could intensify its attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and infrastructure in response to this incursion.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Belgorod, around 11,000 people have been told to evacuate due to “enemy activity.” The BBC also reported that Belarus, a close ally of Russia, is increasing its troop presence at its border after claiming that Ukrainian drones entered its airspace.
In a show of support for Ukraine, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham praised the cross-border operation during a meeting with President Zelensky in Kyiv, calling it “brilliant” and “bold.”
He urged the U.S. government to provide Ukraine with more weapons to continue its defense.
The BBC highlighted that this situation is causing significant alarm in Russia and among its allies.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lmr29ygjo