In the Kursk border region of Russia, an official has advised more residents to evacuate due to the tense situation caused by a surprise Ukrainian attack. Russian forces are struggling to respond after almost a week of intense fighting. Over 76,000 people have fled their homes in areas of Kursk as Ukrainian troops and armour crossed the border on August 6, advancing as deep as 30 kilometres into Russia and causing alarm.
The Ukrainian forces swiftly entered the town of Sudzha, around 10 kilometres over the border, and they currently control the western part of the town, which is home to a significant natural gas transit station. The operation is shrouded in secrecy, and the exact goals of the Ukrainian forces are unclear – whether they plan to hold territory or are conducting a raid.
This unexpected move has caught the Kremlin off guard and goes against Russia’s recent efforts to breach Ukrainian defences along the front line in eastern Ukraine. While Russia has experienced previous incursions during the war, the attack in the Kursk region is the largest on its soil since World War II, a significant embarrassment for President Vladimir Putin.
The advance has shattered the illusion that life in Russia remains unaffected by the war and has exposed the military’s failure to prepare for and repel the attack promptly. State propaganda has downplayed the incident, focusing on assisting residents and diverting attention from the military’s lack of readiness.
Retired general Andrei Gurulev criticised the military for not adequately protecting the border, highlighting the lack of troops to block enemy raids. Analysts predict that the toughest phase of Ukraine’s incursion is yet to come as Russian reserves join the conflict. The Institute for the Study of War suggests that Russia may need to deploy more military assets along the border with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that a fire near Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had no impact on the facility’s safety. Both Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the blaze, with the IAEA warning that the war poses a risk to the plant’s safety and calling for an end to such reckless attacks.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with implications beyond the military manoeuvres on the ground. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
