A state of emergency has been declared in the Kursk region of Russia following a massive attack by Ukrainian forces on defense positions at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).
Regional officials announced that access to specific areas has been restricted to address the situation.
Alexei Smirnov, the acting regional governor, stated that the move was necessary \"to eliminate the consequences of enemy forces coming into the region.\"
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that up to 300 soldiers from Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade, supported by 11 tanks and over 20 armored combat vehicles, targeted Russian border defense positions near the settlements of Nikolaevo-Daryino and Oleshnya.
According to Russia's Health Ministry, 31 civilians, including six children, were wounded in the attack. In response, Russia's National Guard has heightened security around the nearby Kursk nuclear power station and its four reactors.
Russian officials claim that since June 14, Russia has advanced by taking 420 square kilometers of territory from Ukrainian forces after the unsuccessful Ukrainian 2023 counteroffensive.
Ukraine retaliated on Tuesday, and battles continued through the night into Wednesday as Ukrainian forces pushed northwest of the border town of Sudzha, located 530 km southwest of Moscow, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
\"The Kyiv regime has launched another major provocation,\" President Vladimir Putin told members of the Russian government, referring to the recent attack in the Kursk region.
Reference(s):
State of Emergency declared as Ukraine pierces Russian border
cgtn.com
