On Thursday, the Russian government began to further evacuate its residents located near the border, responding to Ukraine’s claim of conducting extensive operations deeper within Russia’s borders. This move signifies Ukraine’s strategic attempt to deter Moscow’s ongoing advancement.
The most substantial outside attack on Russian land since the Second World War commenced on August 6th, when Ukrainian military troops breached the Kursk region’s border. This move by the armed forces has humiliated the Russian military.
Ukrainian forces, assisted by surveillance drones, heavy firepower and armoured vehicles, have since managed to secure a section of the globe’s largest nuclear power. There was still ongoing conflict, spanning across an 18km stretch within Russian borders as of Thursday.
The acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, announced an evacuation plan for the Glushkov district, home to 20,000 residents. According to official Russian figures, at least 200,000 people from these border areas have been successfully moved to safety.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, confirmed that his troops had managed to push slightly into Russian territory. He stated that the key objective of accumulating a ‘swap fund’ of war captives was being achieved. A Ukrainian official claimed that Kyiv was creating a defensive zone to safeguard its residents against any possible assault.
Russia’s defence ministry mentioned Thursday that Russian forces had shot down multiple Ukrainian drones over Russia’s nearby Belgorod region. In response, Sukhoi-34 bombers targeted Ukrainian locations within Kursk. The ministry reported intense warfare taking place along the Ukraine front and confirmed that Russian troops had successfully secured dominant battlegrounds.
Although Ukraine’s assault has left Moscow red-faced, exposed the frailty of its border security, and altered the public perception of the conflict, Russian authorities remain adamant that this Ukrainian “invasion” will not influence the war’s trajectory.
Russia, having invaded Ukraine in 2022, has managed to push forward across the duration of the year along a 1000km long Ukrainian front, primarily due to its considerable numerical advantage. As a result, Russia now commands approximately 18 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
Responding to Ukrainian troops infiltrating Russian territory, Russia has launched a counterstrike using missiles and drones in the Kursk region. As observed by Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of Akhmat special forces in Chechnya, Ukraine has made significant battlefield advances since 2022, when around 12,000 Ukrainian soldiers crossed into Russia. He assures, though, that these forces will be repelled.
By taking the fight to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a risk of potentially undermining Kyiv’s defensive line in Ukraine. In response, Russia has mobilized thousands of backup troops towards driving out the Ukrainian forces. Military experts agree that for Ukraine to retain control of the captured Russian territories, a comprehensive logistics operation will be necessary for the support of its troops.
In terms of air conflicts, Ukraine’s air force boasts of shooting down 29 drones launched by Russia over an eight-region span during a nocturnal attack on Thursday, causing minimal destruction. Additionally, three Kh-59 guided missiles were launched by Russia, as confirmed by a statement from the air force.
Despite this, the central Cherkasy region’s governor reported minor window damage to a private establishment, and the governors of the Kyiv, Poltava, and Kirovohrad regions claimed no detectable harm to infrastructure or loss of life. The southern Mykolaiv region governor said the air force had shot down five drones, though details about the damage were not disclosed. The governor of the southern Kherson region reported eight additional drones being shot down, and lamented a casualty and 13 injuries in the region due to various Russian attacks over the previous day. – Reuters
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