President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has finally acknowledged Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region, stating the intention to push the war onto the aggressor’s territory. Zelenskyy made this statement during his address on Saturday night.
Ukraine’s operation in Russia has now entered its sixth day, marking the largest attack since Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022. This incursion is unique for deploying Ukrainian military units on Russian soil, catching Moscow by surprise and causing embarrassment to Russian military leaders.
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The Russian Defense Ministry reported clashes between its forces and Ukrainian troops in Tolpino, Zhuravli, and Obshchy Kolodez, with Tolpino located just 15 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Civilian evacuation from Russia’s border areas with Ukraine is ongoing, with over 20 temporary accommodation centers set up in the Kursk region. The operation’s exact objectives remain unclear, with Ukrainian military officials maintaining secrecy to ensure its success.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Ukraine’s attacks as pointless and aimed at terrorizing Russia’s civilian population, suggesting a different motive behind Kyiv’s actions.