Ukrainian forces including armoured vehicles have made confirmed advances of up to 10km into Russia’s Kursk oblast, the Institute for the Study of War said on Wednesday evening. “The current confirmed extent and location of Ukrainian advances in Kursk oblast indicate that Ukrainian forces have penetrated at least two Russian defensive lines and a stronghold,” the US-based thinktank said in its Wednesday evening update. “Russian insider source and several other Russian sources reported that Ukrainian forces fought for and seized the Sudzha checkpoint and the Sudzha gas distribution station.” ISW cited geolocated footage and satellite imagery, and said the Ukrainians had taken dozens of prisoners of war.
The White House was contacting Ukraine to learn the “objectives” of a major incursion across the border into Russia, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said on Wednesday. Washington supported “common sense” actions by Ukraine to stop attacks by Russian forces, Jean-Pierre added. “We’re going to reach out to the Ukrainian military to learn more about their objectives.
Vladimir Putin described it as a “large-scale provocation” as Ukrainian officials remained silent about the scope of the operation. Matthew Miller, US state department spokesperson, dismissed Moscow’s condemnations. “I have seen the statements from the Russian government. It is a little bit rich, them calling it a provocation, given Russia violated Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, writes that the operation appears to be an attack by Ukraine’s military rather than the Ukrainian-based Russian opposition groups that have conducted past raids.
