Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine’s recent advance into southern Russian territory is an attempt to create instability in Russia and cautioned that Ukraine will face consequences for its actions, “a worthy response.”
Last week, Ukrainian forces breached the Russian border and advanced through the western parts of the Kursk region. This marks Ukraine’s largest cross-border operation since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. The move caught Moscow by surprise, prompting a military response as Russia deployed additional troops to counter the incursion. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Monday that more forces and resources had arrived in Kursk but did not provide specific numbers.
Ukraine’s army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated on Monday that Ukrainian forces now control about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Kursk. This information was shared in a video excerpt by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram. Monday also marked the first time Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian military forces are operating inside Russian territory. In his nightly address, Zelensky noted that the war is now returning to Russia after Moscow had taken the conflict to other countries.
Read More: Ukraine Claims Control of 1,000 Sq Km in Russian Territory Amid Ongoing Conflict
On Monday, a new evacuation order was issued in Russia’s Belgorod region as officials in the Krasnaya Yaruga district, which borders Kursk, feared a similar Ukrainian incursion, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has accused Russia of attempting to falsely blame Kyiv for war crimes. The SBU stated on Telegram that they had gathered evidence suggesting that Russia might stage incidents and then blame them on Ukraine.
