Ukrainian forces push 30km into Russian territory in deepest incursion since country’s invasion

New Delhi, Aug 12: Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometres into Russian territory, marking the deepest incursion since the Russia–Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022.

The advance, concentrated in the Kursk region, has entered its sixth day, with Ukrainian troops reportedly capturing several settlements and seizing key administrative buildings.

Russia’s defence ministry acknowledged the severity of the situation, confirming that its forces engaged Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, located 25 to 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border. Despite claims of “foiling attempts” by Ukrainian mobile groups to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, the admissions suggest a significant breach in Russian defences.

The offensive has provoked strong reactions from Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of “intimidating the peaceful population of Russia.” Meanwhile, local authorities in the Kursk region declared a state of emergency, with acting regional governor Aleksei Smirnov reporting the evacuation of 76,000 people from border areas. The situation escalated further when 15 people were injured after the wreckage of a downed Ukrainian missile struck a multi-storey building in Kursk’s regional capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the attack, highlighting the ongoing cross-border assaults launched by Russia from Kursk over the summer. “Artillery, mortars, drones. We also record missile strikes, and each such strike deserves a fair response,” Zelensky stated in his nightly address.

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking to AFP, revealed that thousands of troops are involved in the operation, far exceeding the small incursion initially reported by Russian border guards.

The Kursk offensive represents a strategic shift in Ukraine’s military operations, possibly aiming to stretch Russian forces thin and relieve pressure on Ukrainian defences in the east.

Despite the intense fighting in Kursk, Russian military operations in eastern Ukraine have continued unabated. This suggests that Kyiv’s strategy may be to divert Russian resources and create openings in using other areas of the front.

International media showcasing footage from the conflict zone shows Ukrainian soldiers removing Russian flags from administrative buildings in villages like Guevo and Sverdlikovo, while intense clashes have been reported in the town of Sudzha, home to about 5,000 people. Ukrainian troops have also been seen near a major gas facility outside Sudzha, a crucial site for the transit of natural gas from Russia to the European Union.

The incursion into Russian territory highlights the ongoing volatility of the conflict and raises questions about the future course of the war. While Ukrainian forces have made significant gains in Kursk, the broader implications for the conflict remain uncertain.

Some analysts suggest that the attack could force Russia to reallocate troops away from eastern Ukraine, potentially easing the strain on Ukrainian defences. However, the continuation of Russian offensives in the east indicates that the conflict is far from over.

Amid this escalation, Ukraine’s air defences successfully intercepted 53 out of 57 attack drones launched by Russia during overnight airstrikes, according to Ukrainian Air Force officials.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Ukrainian offensive as a “major provocation,” signalling that the conflict is likely to intensify in the coming days.