Russia strikes Ukrainian forces back in Kursk

On Tuesday, Russia launched missile and drone air strikes in response to Ukraine's attacks in the Kursk region.

One of Russia's top commanders stated that these counterattacks repelled the largest assault on Russian sovereign territory since the war began.

Last week, Ukrainian troops crossed the Russian border from the Kursk region, launching a sudden attack. Vladimir Putin stated that this attack was aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s negotiation position and slowing down Russia's progress on the front lines.

Ukraine's assault exposed vulnerabilities in Russia's border security, leading Moscow to evacuate at least 200,000 people from the region and increase security measures.

RUSSIA REPELS THE ATTACK

Russian military bloggers reported intense fighting on the Kursk front, where Ukrainian forces attempted to expand their control. However, Russia reinforced the area with troops and heavy weaponry, repelling many attacks.

The Russian Ministry of Defense released footage showing Su-34 bombers conducting air strikes on Ukrainian troops near the Kursk border.

Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit, stated, "The enemy's uncontrolled advance has been halted. The enemy has realized that their planned blitzkrieg has failed."

It remains unclear which side controls the town of Sudzha, which is crucial for transporting Russia’s gas from Western Siberia to Slovakia and other European Union countries through Ukraine. Gazprom announced on Tuesday that gas shipments through Sudzha to Ukraine were continuing.

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, stated on Monday that Ukraine controls 28 settlements in the region, with the attack spanning 12 kilometers in depth and 40 kilometers in width. Ukraine, meanwhile, claimed to control 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory.

ESCALATING TENSIONS

Ukraine's attack carries risks for both Kyiv and Moscow. Western leaders had pledged support to Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion, with the goal of defeating Russian forces on the battlefield and driving them out of the country. However, in 2023, Ukraine's counteroffensive struggled to break through Russia's heavily fortified lines, and this year, Russia has begun advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Speaking to senior officials in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow, Putin stated, "Russia will forcibly remove Ukrainian troops and deliver the response they deserve."