Egypt Daily News – In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to expel Ukrainian forces from Russian territory following a significant cross-border incursion.
This declaration came as it was revealed that Ukrainian troops have captured dozens of Russian villages and expanded their control over substantial areas near the border.
During a meeting with local officials from border regions, Putin was informed by the acting head of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, that 28 settlements had fallen under Ukrainian control, with forces advancing up to 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) into Russian territory along a 25-mile-wide stretch of the border.
Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army, Oleksandr Sirsky, confirmed that approximately 386 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of Russian land is now under Ukrainian administration.
In response to the incursion, a wave of evacuations has taken place in the affected areas, with Smirnov reporting that around 180,000 people were advised to evacuate, and 121,000 had already left.
Similarly, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, stated that residents in the Krasnoyarusky district were being relocated to safer areas due to escalating hostilities.
The incursion represents a significant shift in the conflict, marking the first official cross-border ground operations by Ukraine after two and a half years of all-out war.
Although Ukrainian forces have previously targeted the Belgorod region with drones and missiles, this marks a bold new phase in their military actions.
Numerous Russian military blogs suggested that Ukrainian forces plan to expand their operations, creating additional tension points and attempting to disrupt communications in the Belgorod region.
While Ukrainian officials have not extensively commented on the situation, a recent video geolocated by CNN showed Ukrainian soldiers raising their flag in Buroz, a village located just a mile from the border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the cross-border operations, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to restoring justice and applying necessary pressure on Russia.
The motivations behind these operations remain unclear, particularly as Ukrainian forces face increasing pressure along the 600-mile front line due to Russia’s ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian General Staff noted that Russian forces were targeting strategic locations, including the strategically significant town of Turetsk, north of Donetsk.
