KYIV: Ukraine pounded Russian regions with missiles and drones on Wednesday as Kyiv said it was advancing deeper in the biggest foreign incursion into Russia for decades, which the White House said posed a “real dilemma” for President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his troops were “moving further” into Russia.
Since launching the offensive on August 6, Ukrainian forces have made substantial gains in Russia’s Kursk region, capturing dozens of settlements in what is described as the largest foreign military incursion into Russian territory since World War II.
Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian troops had moved between one to two kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles) deeper into Kursk on Wednesday, and that they had captured over 100 Russian servicemen.
The Ukrainian military’s cross-border operation has prompted a state of emergency in the neighbouring Russian region of Belgorod. The regional governor reported an “extremely difficult” situation due to Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks. More than 120,000 Russians have reportedly fled their homes in the affected border areas.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces targeted four Russian airfields overnight with drones in what has been described as the “largest attack” of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The attacks aimed to disrupt Russian military operations and prevent the use of these airfields for launching further strikes.
Footage from Ukrainian news outlet TSN showed Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region town of Sudzha, removing a Russian flag and celebrating their gains. The visuals reflect the significant impact of the offensive on local morale and the broader psychological effect on both Ukrainian and Russian populations.
In Moscow, concerns have been mounting as the Ukrainian operation brings the conflict closer to the Russian heartland. Yulia Rusakova, a Moscow resident with family in Kursk, expressed distress over the situation.
“It’s very hard to lead a normal, calm life, knowing that such things are happening there,” she said. Olga Raznoglazova, visiting from Kursk, noted that the operation had made the war feel much closer to home, intensifying local anxieties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops from Russian soil, accusing Ukraine of using the operation to strengthen its negotiating position for any future talks. The Kremlin has claimed that it repelled attempts by Ukrainian forces to advance deeper into Kursk, but Ukrainian officials have dismissed these claims.
A Ukrainian security official, speaking anonymously, stated that the offensive aimed to “stretch the positions of the enemy, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize the situation in Russia,” as Ukrainian forces continue to target weak points in the Russian defence.
On the Ukrainian side of the border, the aftermath of the fighting is visible with toppled fortifications and damaged infrastructure. Ukrainian servicemen reported that Russian defences were inadequate, with only anti-personnel mines and hastily placed barriers to slow the advance.
Ukrainian forces have also detained blindfolded Russian POWs, adding to the complex and tense nature of the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian military’s strategy appears to be focused on exerting pressure on Russian defences and creating instability within Russia to further their tactical objectives.
