Ukrainian forces have penetrated into Russian territory and taken Russian soldiers captive in the Kursk region, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Amid heavy fighting and drone strikes, Russia has declared a state of emergency in the region.
Ukraine's defense ministry has released footage showing Ukrainian troops taking Russian soldiers captive in the Kursk region of Russia, signaling a bold and unexpected incursion into Russian territory. This development comes amidst escalating clashes and drone strikes on military and government targets in several western regions of Russia.
The Lipetsk region, situated just north of Kursk, witnessed a series of drone strikes early Friday morning, targeting an ammunition depot and warehouse. Reports indicate that approximately 700 Russian guided bombs were destroyed in the attack. Additionally, an energy facility was hit, disrupting power supplies.
Ukraine's Surprise Invasion of Russia: POWs Taken Amid Fierce Fighting
Russian state media reported a military airfield ablaze following the strike, during which 19 drones were intercepted. Further reports revealed that 26 drones were downed in the Belogrod region, located near Ukraine's Kharkiv region and east of Kursk.
The Russian defense ministry claimed that 75 drones had been shot down across various regions bordering Ukraine, with an additional five downed in Russian-occupied Crimea. Moscow has declared a "federal-level" state of emergency in Kursk, acknowledging that Ukrainian forces are approaching the strategic town of Sudzha.
Ukraine's Surprise Invasion of Russia: POWs Taken Amid Fierce Fighting
Graphic footage circulated on Friday showed the remains of a Russian convoy ambushed by Ukrainian forces, with burned-out vehicles containing dead Russian soldiers. Earlier this year, the Biden administration allowed Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets outside of Ukraine's borders.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained silent on the Russian incursion, consistent with Kyiv's policy of silence during operations, he stated in a recent address, "Russia brought war to our land, and it should feel what it has done."
Ukraine's Surprise Invasion of Russia: POWs Taken Amid Fierce Fighting
The purpose of Ukraine's multi-regional targeting of Russian targets remains unclear, but sources believe that Kyiv may be attempting to divert Russian resources from the front lines by escalating the conflict within Russia's borders. Russia's defenses within its territory are believed to be weakened due to its focus on the eastern flank of Ukraine, where it has made territorial gains this year.
Despite Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh's comments that the US has granted Ukraine approval to target strategic targets beyond Ukraine's border with Russia, she declined to specify limitations on the range of Ukraine's "cross-border" attacks. However, she emphasized that the US does not support long-range attacks deep within Russian territory.
Ukraine's Surprise Invasion of Russia: POWs Taken Amid Fierce Fighting
The ongoing fighting in Russia marks a significant shift in the conflict, with Ukraine taking the war onto Russian soil. The implications of this escalation remain to be seen, but it underscores the escalating tensions and the potential for further conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
