A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region due to a rare cross-border assault by Ukrainian forces.
Acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated, “The measure was essential to eliminate the consequences of enemy forces coming into the region.”
Russian officials reported at least five civilian deaths and 31 injuries, including six children, since the incursion began. While Ukraine has not officially commented on the situation, the extent of the incursion remains unclear.
On Wednesday evening, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko claimed that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a significant facility for natural gas transit from Russia to the EU via Ukraine.
Honcharenko stated on Facebook, “The incursion would demonstrate to Europeans and Americans that Russia can and needs to be attacked.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Newshour, Honcharenko added, “From a military point of view, we are trying to take back the initiative… We are showing the world that the world should not be scared of escalation or the reaction of Putin. There is no reaction… For the first time since the Second World War, Russian territory that is internationally recognised is occupied and Putin did not [turn] to nukes and so on.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of launching a “major provocation” and “firing indiscriminately” at civilian areas. Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed that the “advance” into Kursk had been halted, with Russian forces “continuing to destroy the adversary in areas directly adjacent to the Russian-Ukrainian border.”
Gerasimov stated, “Ukrainian forces aimed to control the Sudzha area and that Russia had already killed 100 men and injured 215.”
