Russia Struggles to Repel Ukraine’s Deep Incursion into Kursk

Russia’s military claims it has continued to repel a surprise Ukrainian incursion into the western Kursk region, now in its fourth day.

The Russian defence ministry reported that Ukraine has lost over 280 soldiers in the past 24 hours, though this figure has not been independently confirmed.

Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces have advanced more than 10 kilometres (six miles) into Russian territory, marking the deepest incursion by Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

While Ukraine has not officially acknowledged the operation, President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at it in his Thursday address, stating that Moscow must “feel” the repercussions of its invasion.

In a separate development, Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian strike on a shopping centre in Kostyantynivka, a town near the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region, resulted in at least 14 deaths and 43 injuries.

The attack also damaged residential buildings, shops, and vehicles.

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This news followed an announcement by Ukraine’s military that it had targeted a military airfield deep within Russia, destroying a warehouse containing hundreds of glide bombs.

The strike on the Lipetsk air base, located over 350 kilometres (217 miles) from Ukraine’s border, represents a significant escalation in Kyiv’s military strategy.

The base is known to house Russia’s Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 warplanes, which have been used to bombard Ukrainian cities and military positions.

Lipetsk regional authorities confirmed detonations at an “energy infrastructure facility” and declared a state of emergency, evacuating residents from four nearby villages.

On Tuesday, the Russian defence ministry issued a statement claiming its forces were fending off “an attempt by the Ukrainian armed forces to invade the territory of the Russian Federation.” The ministry reported using aviation and artillery to suppress “raid attempts by enemy units.”

However, a video verified by BBC shows a different scenario, depicting a 15-vehicle Russian convoy that had been damaged, burned, and abandoned in the town of Oktyabr’skoe, roughly 38 kilometres (24 miles) from the Russian border.

The footage also shows Russian soldiers, some injured or possibly dead, lying among the vehicles.

In response to the escalating situation, a “federal state of emergency” has been declared in the Kursk region, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

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