Three days into Ukraine’s significant cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Moscow must “feel” the repercussions for its actions in Ukraine. In a Thursday evening address, Zelensky implied the recent Ukrainian assault without directly mentioning it, stating, “Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.”
Russian authorities have reported that around 1,000 Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, crossed into Russia on Tuesday morning. This marks one of the largest incursions into Russian territory since the conflict began. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced the move as a “major provocation.”
The situation remains fluid, with Ukrainian officials keeping details sparse and Russian sources providing limited information. Zelensky remarked, “Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise [and] achieve results,” indicating confidence in the Ukrainian military’s operations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is monitoring the situation at the Kursk nuclear plant, as reported by Russian state-owned news agency RIA-Novosti. Russia’s defense ministry stated that Russian forces are actively engaged in combat, using air strikes, rockets, and artillery to repel Ukrainian troops. The ministry also noted that additional Russian reserves have been deployed to the region.
The Institute for the Study of War has reported that Ukrainian armored vehicles advanced approximately 10 kilometers into Kursk in the initial two days of the assault. Domestically, Russian military leadership faces scrutiny, with pro-war Telegram channels criticizing the handling of the situation and suggesting that critical intelligence was ignored.
Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov, in a video call with Putin, reported that evacuation efforts are underway using buses and trains, though these efforts are being hindered by Ukrainian shelling. Smirnov’s Telegram posts have continued to alert residents to missile strikes throughout the night.
On Friday morning, the Russian defense ministry announced the interception and destruction of 75 UAV missiles over Kursk and other regions. Additionally, a fire broke out at a military airfield in the neighboring Lipetsk region, though its cause and relation to the Kursk conflict remain unclear. A red threat level alert in Lipetsk was later lifted.
Local leaders in adjacent regions are advising residents to evacuate for safety. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko claimed Ukrainian forces have taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a key facility for natural gas transit from Russia to the EU. Despite the conflict, gas flow from Sudzha reportedly continues.
Ukraine’s allies have expressed surprise at the offensive, with the White House seeking clarification from Kyiv on its objectives. This incursion follows previous cross-border raids by anti-Kremlin Russian groups and renewed clashes in March.
As Russia has made incremental gains in eastern Ukraine recently, Ukraine’s defense intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, anticipates that the main Russian offensive might conclude within the next two months.
