Ukrainian forces have made significant progress in their surprise cross-border offensive into Russia’s western Kursk region, now in its fourth day. Reports indicate that Ukrainian troops have advanced more than 10km inside Russian territory, marking Kyiv’s deepest incursion since the start of the full-scale invasion by Moscow in February 2022.
The Russian defense ministry claims it is “continuing to repel” the Ukrainian advance, reporting over 280 Ukrainian casualties in the past 24 hours, though these numbers remain unverified. The fighting has drawn dangerously close to a nuclear power plant, prompting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to call for “maximum restraint” to prevent a potential nuclear accident.
Residents in the Kursk region have begun evacuating, with some expressing fear over the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military confirmed a successful strike on a Russian airfield deep inside the country, destroying a warehouse of glide bombs and hitting an air base known for housing Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 warplanes.
Russia has responded with a retaliatory strike on a shopping center in the Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 43 injuries. Despite Russia’s efforts to counter the offensive, the situation in Kursk remains critical, with a state of emergency declared in the region. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s right to defend itself, signaling the nation’s determination to make Russia “feel the consequences” of its actions.
