KYIV: Thousands of Ukrainian troops have launched a major incursion into Russian territory, aiming to destabilize the Kremlin by highlighting its weaknesses and stretching its defensive capabilities, a top Ukrainian official said. The offensive, which began earlier this week, marks one of the largest and most successful cross-border operations by Ukrainian forces since the onset of the war.
“We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilize the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,” the Ukrainian security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The Ukrainian official said that the number of troops involved is “in the thousands,” contrary to the 1,000 figure reported by the Russian military. The incursion reportedly started on Tuesday, catching the Kremlin off guard and allowing Ukrainian forces to breach Russian defensive lines.
In a televised address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the offensive, describing it as an effort to “push the war into the aggressor’s territory” and demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to take the fight to Russia. Zelensky’s acknowledgment followed days of official silence on the operation.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, the Ukrainian advance into its western Kursk region has been partially halted. The ministry reported that Russian forces had repelled attempts by Ukrainian mobile groups equipped with armored vehicles to penetrate deeper into Russian soil. The clashes reportedly occurred near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, approximately 25 to 30 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.
The Russian military has claimed to have inflicted significant losses on Ukrainian troops and equipment, publishing footage of destroyed military assets. Despite this, Ukrainian forces have made notable progress, with reports indicating that they have advanced several kilometers into Russian territory. This development has prompted Russia to deploy additional reserves and military equipment to the affected areas.
The offensive has prompted a large-scale evacuation in Russia, with over 76,000 civilians moved from the Kursk region as a precaution. Conversely, Ukraine has also initiated evacuation plans for around 20,000 people from its Sumy region, which is adjacent to the conflict zone.
The incursion has provided a morale boost to the Ukrainian military and public, according to an anonymous Ukrainian official. “This operation has shown that we can go on the offensive and move forward,” the official said, adding that the operation has exposed potential issues within the Russian military.
Despite the success of the offensive, the situation on the eastern front remains largely unchanged. Ukrainian forces continue to face intense pressure from Russian troops, who have not significantly reduced their activity in the region. However, the intensity of Russian attacks has slightly diminished, according to the official.
Ukrainian forces have pledged to adhere to international humanitarian law during their operations in Russian territory, with no plans for annexation of captured areas. The official emphasized that there would be no compromise on nuclear safety, addressing concerns about the Kursk nuclear power plant near the conflict zone.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has called for maximum restraint from both sides to avoid potential nuclear hazards.
The White House has expressed interest in understanding the objectives of Ukraine’s incursion, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stating that US policy discourages broader strikes or attacks within Russia.
Despite this, the Ukrainian official indicated that Western arms played an indirect role in the planning of the operation.
The official said he expected Russia would “in the end” manage to stop Ukrainian forces in Kursk and retaliate with a large-scale missile attack including “on decision-making centres” in Ukraine.
There has already been a more intense bombardment of Ukraine’s Sumy region just across the border from Kursk.
An overnight missile attack near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv killed a man and his four-year-old son, emergency services said.
Russia also promised a “tough response” after it said a Ukrainian missile strike wounded 15 in the city of Kursk, around 90 kilometres (55 miles) from the border.
