Ukrainian forces push 30km into Russia in deepest incursion of the war

Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometers into Russian territory, marking the most significant incursion since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia's defense ministry confirmed its troops engaged Ukrainian forces near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez as the offensive in the Kursk region entered its sixth day. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, accused Kyiv of "intimidating the peaceful population of Russia."

In his first acknowledgment of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in a recent address that Russia had launched 2,000 cross-border attacks from the Kursk region over the summer. “Artillery, mortars, drones, and missile strikes—all deserve a fair response,” Zelensky stated.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that thousands of troops are involved in the operation, far surpassing the smaller incursions previously reported by Russian border guards. This offensive represents Kyiv’s most coordinated attack on Russian soil by conventional forces.

“We are on the offensive. The goal is to stretch enemy positions, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize Russia,” the official said.

Russia's defense ministry claimed to have "foiled attempts by enemy mobile groups with armored vehicles to penetrate deep into Russian territory." However, the ministry acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have advanced significantly into the Kursk border region, with engagements reported near villages about 25 to 30 kilometers from the Ukraine-Russia border.

Verified footage circulated online appears to show a Russian strike near the village of Levshinka, approximately 25 kilometers from the border. Ukrainian forces have claimed to capture several settlements in the Kursk region, including Guevo, where they filmed themselves removing a Russian flag from an administrative building.

Ukrainian troops have also seized administrative buildings in Sverdlikovo and Poroz, with intense fighting reported in Sudzha, a town of about 5,000 people. Ukrainian soldiers have filmed themselves at a major gas facility near Sudzha, which continues to operate despite the war.

In Sumy, BBC reporters observed a steady flow of armored personnel carriers and tanks heading towards Russia. These convoys are marked with white triangular insignias, seemingly to distinguish them from equipment used within Ukraine. Aerial photos show Ukrainian tanks engaged in combat inside Russia, and satellite imagery reveals new defensive lines near the Kursk nuclear power plant, with Ukrainian forces reportedly within 50 kilometers of the facility.

Local authorities in Kursk have declared a state of emergency, with 76,000 people evacuated from border areas. Acting regional governor Aleksei Smirnov reported that 15 people were injured when debris from a downed Ukrainian missile struck a building in Kursk’s capital.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko praised the operation, saying it brings the country closer to peace. "When Russia must defend its own territory, it shows them the only way to end this war," he told the BBC.

The Kursk offensive follows weeks of Russian advances in eastern Ukraine. Some analysts suggest Kyiv’s move may be an effort to force Russia to redeploy forces from the east and alleviate pressure on Ukrainian defenses. However, the Ukrainian official indicated there has been little reduction in Russian activity in the east.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the offensive a "major provocation."

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, emergency services reported that a man and his four-year-old son were killed in a missile strike near the capital. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 53 out of 57 drones launched by Russia in an overnight barrage, which also included four North Korean-made missiles. The U.S. alleges that Pyongyang has been supplying Russia with military hardware.

In occupied Zaporizhzhia, Russian officials reported a fire at the region's nuclear power plant, allegedly caused by Ukrainian shelling. The fire was extinguished, and the UN’s nuclear watchdog confirmed no impact on nuclear safety. However, President Zelensky accused Russian forces of starting the fire at the facility, which has been under Russian control since 2022. All six reactors at the plant have been in cold shutdown since April.

[Information sourced from BBC]