In his first public remarks following Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to forcefully expel the Ukrainian forces from Russian territory. These remarks were made during a meeting with officials convened to discuss the situation in the border region, as reported by the BBC. The meeting followed shortly after the Kremlin issued a fresh evacuation order for more areas along the border. For days, Russian troops have been engaged in a struggle to repel Ukrainian soldiers who have penetrated the Kursk region, targeting critical infrastructure. This recent incursion is widely considered the most significant infiltration operation conducted by Ukraine since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. During the Monday meeting, Putin reportedly told military officials, “The defense ministry’s main task is to push, to kick the enemy out of our territory.” He further asserted that Ukraine’s motive for this offensive is to strengthen its negotiating position, a sentiment echoed by several Ukrainian officials.
Prior to Putin’s statements, Russian authorities initiated the evacuation of thousands of civilians from additional areas bordering Ukraine. As of Monday, over 70,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes due to the ongoing clashes. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia, announced via CNN that residents of the Krasnoyaruzhsky district were being relocated to safer areas. This evacuation order followed the Russian Defense Ministry’s announcement that Ukrainian troops had advanced 30 kilometers into Russian territory. “We’re having a disturbing morning – enemy activities on the border of Krasnoyaruzhsky district. I am sure that our military will do everything to cope with this threat. But to protect the life and health of our people, we are beginning to relocate people who live in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places,” the Russian governor stated in a Telegram message. Later, the head of the Krasnoyaruzhsky district administration, Andrei Miskov, confirmed that over 11,000 residents had been evacuated.
The Ukrainian incursion, which commenced on Tuesday, has now expanded to two Russian regions and is widely viewed as a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict. While the full scope of the operation remains unclear, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the objective is to bring “justice” to the ongoing war. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy vowed to restore justice for Russia’s invasion, mentioning discussions with top Ukrainian military officer Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the operation. “Today, I received several reports from commander-in-chief Syrskyi regarding the front lines and our actions to push the war onto the aggressor’s territory,” Zelenskyy declared. “Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor.” Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment came just hours after Russia announced the use of a thermobaric bomb against Ukrainian forces and declared a “counter-terrorism” operation in retaliation.
