A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region due to a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian forces on Wednesday. Acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated that the emergency was necessary to address the impact of the Ukrainian incursion.
According to Russian officials, at least five civilians have been killed and 31 wounded, including six children, since the attack began. Ukraine has not yet commented on the situation, and the full extent of the incursion remains unclear.
On Tuesday morning, up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops, along with 11 tanks and over 20 armored vehicles, entered Russia near Sudzha, according to Moscow. Fighting was reported in several villages, leading to restrictions on movement and the cancellation of public events. Air alerts were issued in Kursk, and verified footage showed fighter jets flying low and smoke rising from the ground. Thousands of residents were evacuated, and doctors were brought in from other cities.
Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory have been rare since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko claimed that the Ukrainian army had taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a key facility for natural gas transit to the EU, though this claim has not been independently verified. He suggested that the incursion was intended to demonstrate to Europe and the US that Russia can be challenged.
Ukrainian officials have stated that the incursion aims to show that the world should not fear escalation or a strong response from Russian President Putin. The move may also force Russia to reposition its troops, potentially reducing attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled the Ukrainian action a “major provocation” and accused them of targeting civilian areas. Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported that the advance into Kursk has been halted, with Russian forces continuing to fight near the border. He claimed that 100 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 215 injured. However, some pro-war Telegram channels suggest the situation is not as stable as the Kremlin reports, with ongoing heavy fighting.
The Russian National Guard has increased security around the Kursk nuclear power plant, located about 70 km north-east of Sudzha. In the neighboring Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov issued missile attack warnings and reported injuries from Ukrainian air attacks.
In response, Ukrainian regional leader Volodymyr Artyukh ordered evacuations in areas bordering Kursk. Ukrainian Colonel Vladislav Seleznyov described the attack as “preventative,” with around 75,000 Russian troops stationed near the border. Some analysts are questioning the strategy of such cross-border raids, given Ukraine’s stretched resources.
This is not the first time fighters from Ukraine have entered Russian territory. Similar incursions occurred last year and in March, with clashes reported.