Tense Battles Rage in Kursk as Ukraine Launches Major Offensive

Russia is embroiled in intense battles with Ukrainian troops up to 20 km inside its Kursk region. The surprise Ukrainian attack, the biggest on Russian sovereign territory since the war began in 2022, is supported by drones and heavy artillery. Russia has imposed a security regime and evacuated civilians.

Russia is locked in fierce battles with Ukrainian forces up to 20 km inside the Kursk region, following Ukraine's most significant offensive against Russian territory since the war began in 2022. Ukrainian troops, propelled by drones and heavy artillery, breached the Russian border early Tuesday, advancing quickly across the Western parts of Kursk.

According to Russian war bloggers, Ukrainian units secured a sliver of territory while sabotage units penetrated deeper. Russia's defence ministry confirmed the intense confrontations around settlements like Malaya Loknya, Olgovka, and Ivashkovskoye. In response, Russia implemented a stringent security regime in three border regions on Saturday, indicative of the situation's gravity.

President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian attack, calling it a significant provocation. While Russia's top general claimed on Wednesday that the incursion had halted, they have yet to repel Ukrainian forces fully. Amid strategies and confrontations, questions loom over why Ukraine could penetrate the region so rapidly. This development arrives at a pivotal moment, with Kyiv wary of diminishing U.S. support, especially if Republican Donald Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

(With inputs from agencies.)