Ukrainian Forces Push Into Russia: Latest Developments

A senior Russian commander reported that Ukrainian forces were pushed out from a village in Russia's border region. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy confirmed advances and the creation of a buffer zone. Heavy fighting persists, causing evacuations in Kursk. The incursion aims to challenge Russian advancements and has international implications.

A senior Russian commander announced on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had been expelled from a village in Russia's border region. However, Kyiv's troops were still probing along the front over nine days after their incursion into Russia. This marked the biggest foreign attack on Russian territory since World War Two, beginning on Aug. 6, when thousands of Ukrainian troops breached Russia's western border, causing significant embarrassment for Russia's military leadership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed on Wednesday that his forces had advanced several kilometers and were achieving the goal of replenishing an 'exchange fund' of prisoners of war. An official from Kyiv mentioned that they were creating a buffer zone to protect their population from attacks. Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechnya's Akhmat special forces engaged in Kursk, stated that Russian forces had expelled Ukraine from Martynovka, located approximately 18 km (11 miles) from the border.

Alaudinov told Russian state television that they had neutralized everything they found moving in the area, drawing a parallel with Russia's defeat of Napoleon's 1812 invasion. He mentioned that Ukraine was deploying additional forces into Russia, but this was weakening their positions elsewhere on the front. Despite these moves, he admitted Ukraine still held the initiative, though he noted their forces were being steadily diminished. While the town of Sudzha, a crucial hub for Russian natural gas flowing to Europe via Ukraine, was not fully controlled by Ukrainian forces, contrary claims were made by Kyiv.

The chaotic battlefield scenario in the region was underscored by Alaudinov's accounts of forests teeming with Ukrainian troops and the lack of clarity regarding troop positions. While Ukraine's aim seemed to be to slow Moscow's advances along other fronts, intense battles continued, with Russia claiming better positions at several points. As heavy fighting continued, especially near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces bolstered by drones, artillery, and tanks focused on carving out a strategic foothold inside Russian territory. The situation led to the evacuation of the Glushkov district in Kursk and other regions, impacting over 200,000 residents. With Kremlin officials declaring the Ukrainian 'invasion' would not affect the war's trajectory, the incursion has nonetheless highlighted vulnerabilities in Russia's defenses.

Despite the complexities, the West remains supportive of Ukraine, while Russia eyes the use of Western weapons on its soil as a potentially serious escalation. As Zelenskiy challenges Moscow, sustaining the advance requires Ukraine to establish a robust logistics chain to maintain their positions and counter Russia's numerically superior forces. The geopolitical stakes continue to rise, reflecting the broader conflict and its far-reaching implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)