Moscow: Following the Ukrainian forces’ seizure of 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory in the Kursk region, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, “They will receive an appropriate response. We will expel the enemies from our lands.”
Putin’s remarks are being interpreted globally as an indication of escalating tensions. Ukrainian forces recently launched a surprise cross-border offensive, gaining control of numerous Russian villages and significant areas of land.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and military leadership officially disclosed the operation on Monday, with Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi confirming that the territory in western Russia was captured after seven days of intense fighting. This marks Ukraine’s most significant cross-border advance since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.
For safety reasons, a large number of people have been evacuated from western Russia, with 180,000 Russian citizens displaced so far. During a meeting with President Putin, the acting Governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, reported that 28 villages are now under Ukrainian control, with 12 civilians killed. He described the situation as dire, following an unexpected Ukrainian advance up to 18 miles (30 kilometres) into Russia last Tuesday.
“Russia brought the war to others, now it’s returning to Russia,” Ukrainian President Zelensky remarked. However, Putin described the attack as a significant provocation and directed the Russian military to expel the intruders from the region.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged that Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia has created a substantial crisis for President Putin. He added that U.S. officials have been in continuous communication with Ukraine regarding their actions, receiving updates every four to five hours over the past six to eight days.
However, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region and has urged Ukraine to clarify its objectives. She emphasised that the U.S. is not involved in Ukraine’s military operations.
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