A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region following a rare incursion by Ukrainian forces, according to the acting regional Governor Alexey Smirnov. The incursion, which began on August 6, involved 300 Ukrainian troops, tanks, and armored vehicles crossing the border near Sudzha, approximately 400 miles southwest of Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the action as a “large-scale provocation,” while the Russian defense ministry reported ongoing efforts to neutralize the threat with air and missile strikes. Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of general staff, claimed that the Ukrainian offensive, involving 1,000 soldiers, had been halted through combined military efforts.
The U.S. State Department, though not forewarned by Ukrainian officials, acknowledged it was in communication with Ukraine regarding the operation. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller underscored that it is typical for Ukraine not to notify the U.S. of specific tactics, and countered Putin’s provocation claims by highlighting Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 full-scale invasion.
Defense analysts suggest that Ukraine’s motive may be to compel Russia to redeploy forces from eastern Ukraine, where Russia has been conducting a summer offensive. The Institute for the Study of War indicated that Ukrainian troops had managed to penetrate at least two Russian defensive lines in Kursk. The Kremlin’s response has been mixed, attempting to downplay the attack while managing domestic sentiment. Russian military bloggers have sharply criticized the failure to anticipate and prevent the incursion. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Security Council deputy chairman, called for a decisive response to crush the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, emphasizing the need for a robust military counteraction.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/08/state-of-emergency-declared-in-kursk-as-ukrainians-and-russians-clash.html
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