In a televised statement, President Putin emphasized that one of the enemy’s clear objectives is to create discord, fear, and disunity within Russian society. He stressed the importance of the defense ministry’s role in expelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territories during a meeting with officials.
The governor of the affected region reported that 121,000 people had been evacuated from their homes, with around 2,000 Russian citizens remaining in areas now under Ukrainian control. He expressed concern over their uncertain fate and urged residents to seek shelter in windowless, solid-walled rooms to protect themselves from missile strikes.
In the neighboring Belgorod region, approximately 11,000 residents were also advised to evacuate due to ongoing enemy activity near the border. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov issued a similar missile warning and instructed people to take refuge in basements.
Ukrainian President Zelensky acknowledged the offensive in his nightly address, asserting that Russia must be compelled to seek peace if Putin insists on continuing the conflict. He stated that the war, which Russia initiated against others, is now returning to its own territory. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to achieving peace.
Ukrainian officials have indicated that thousands of troops are involved in the operation, a significant escalation from the initial reports of a minor incursion by Russian border guards. An unnamed official told AFP that their objective is to inflict maximum losses and destabilize the situation within Russia.
Kurt Volker, a former US Ambassador to NATO, commented on the situation in an interview with the BBC’s Newshour program. He suggested that Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory could have significant political repercussions for President Putin domestically, as the Russian public and elites witness the impact of his wartime decisions.
During a meeting in Kyiv with President Zelensky, US Senator Lindsey Graham praised the cross-border operation as “brilliant” and “bold,” urging the Biden administration to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons.
In Russia, questions have arisen about how Ukraine was able to penetrate the Kursk region. Pro-Russian war blogger Yuri Podolyaka described the situation as “alarming.” Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that a strong response from Russia’s armed forces would soon follow. Belarus, a Russian ally, announced it was reinforcing its troops along its border after alleging that Ukraine had violated its airspace with drones.
Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that it had inspected a damaged cooling tower at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, following a fire on Sunday. While the cause of the fire remains unclear, President Zelensky accused Russia of intentionally starting it as a means of “blackmail,” whereas the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia blamed Ukrainian shelling for the incident
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