Egypt Daily News – Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Monday that Russia would respond to the recent Ukrainian attack on the Kursk region.
He emphasized that the situation along the borders with Ukraine would be thoroughly assessed, stating, “what is happening in the regions bordering Ukraine will be evaluated.”
Putin highlighted the primary objective of expelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territory, claiming that Ukraine is attempting to bolster its negotiating position by inciting instability in the border regions.
During a meeting concerning the border situation, Putin expressed skepticism regarding peace negotiations, questioning how dialogue could occur with a nation that attacks nuclear facilities.
According to officials, Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced 12 kilometers into Russian territory, gaining control over 28 villages in the Kursk region.
In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have thwarted attempts by Ukrainian forces to penetrate the region further, stating that Russian forces were successfully engaging and defeating groups of Ukrainian troops in multiple locations.
The Ministry provided a tally of the Ukrainian losses during the confrontations, claiming that around 260 soldiers and numerous armored vehicles, including tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, were incapacitated.
Additionally, the Russian defense indicated that helicopter units were conducting air strikes against Ukrainian concentrations in the border area.
This escalation underlines the ongoing tensions between the two nations and reflects the complex dynamics of the conflict in the region.