Kursk Incursion Sparks Tensions: West Accused by Putin's Aide

A Russian official accused NATO and the West of aiding Ukraine's unprecedented incursion into the Kursk region, a claim denied by Washington. The surprise attack highlighted weaknesses in Russian defenses and escalated geopolitical tensions. Putin is considering new military strategies while emphasizing the risk of a broader conflict.

A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that NATO and Western allies assisted Ukraine's surprising attack on Russia's Kursk region, despite denials from Washington. The Aug. 6 incursion, dubbed the largest by a foreign power since World War Two, saw Ukrainian forces advancing across Russia's western border, dealing a significant blow to Putin's military.

While Ukraine framed the operation as necessary to compel Russia to engage in fair peace talks, U.S. and Western officials, keen to avoid direct conflict, insisted they had no forewarning of the attack. Nevertheless, weaponry from Britain and the U.S. is alleged to have been used on Russian soil.

In a conversation with the Izvestia newspaper, Kremlin insider Nikolai Patrushev rejected Western denials, asserting that NATO and Western intelligence had a role in planning the Kursk operation. His statement suggested that Kyiv's bold move would have been impossible without significant external support, raising fears of an escalation in the conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)