Ukraine Launches Rare Cross-Border Attack in Kursk Region

In a surprising turn of events, Ukraine has launched what many are calling a major cross-border attack into Russia’s Kursk region. The attack, which began on Tuesday, has led President Vladimir Putin to label it a ‘major provocation’ from Ukraine.

Acting governor of Kursk, Alexey Smirnov, announced that a state of emergency was declared in the region following two days of fighting. As the conflict escalated, reports indicated that at least five civilians had lost their lives and another 31, including six children, had been injured.

Ukraine has remained mostly silent on the incident, while Russian authorities claim that the attack involved around 1,000 Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and armored vehicles breaching the border near the town of Sudzha.

According to witnesses on Russian television, the atmosphere was tense, with many residents fleeing under drone fire. A local priest, Evgeny Shestopalov, described how the town, home to about 5,000 people, was ‘on fire,’ with many taking shelter in his church.

The full extent of the damage and the depth of the incursion are still being assessed. Some military analysts and bloggers suggest that Ukrainian forces may have advanced several kilometers into Russian territory, with some reports stating an advance of up to 10 kilometers inside Russia.

Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s General Staff, mentioned that Russian troops had repelled the attack and were preventing further incursions. However, local sources claim that the situation remains fluid, with ongoing heavy fighting reported.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not addressed the events in Kursk directly, although his government has been active in the Sumy region, where fighting reportedly intensified.

In the United States, White House officials have stated they received no advance knowledge of the attack and aim to understand Ukraine’s objectives. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby underscored that the U.S. has not altered its policies regarding Ukraine’s use of American weaponry.

Russia is claiming recent successes on the battlefield in other areas against Ukrainian forces, but the sudden offensive into Kursk raises questions about Ukraine’s strategy and military capacity as well.