Moscow Disputes Kyiv’s Claim of Progress in Kursk Offensive
Ukrainian forces are reportedly making progress in Russia’s Kursk region, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claiming control of around 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory. The offensive, now a week old, aims to create a buffer zone to protect Ukraine’s border from Russian attacks.
Moscow disputes Kyiv’s claims, stating that the area under Ukrainian control is about half of what is being reported. Russian officials also said they have successfully repelled Ukrainian attempts to push deeper into five areas in Kursk.
Ukraine announced that it would facilitate the evacuation of civilians from Kursk into both Russia and Ukraine, allowing international humanitarian organizations access to the area. Meanwhile, Russia’s Belgorod border region has declared a state of emergency due to daily Ukrainian bombardment.
Ukraine’s military reported overnight strikes on four Russian airfields in the Voronezh, Kursk, and Nizhny Novgorod regions, targeting fuel depots and weapons. Zelenskyy praised the attacks as “timely” and “accurate,” while Moscow claimed to have intercepted 117 Ukrainian drones and four missiles.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone attack in the northeastern Kharkiv region killed two medics and injured three civilians. Additionally, a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odessa injured at least two people.
Germany issued a European arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor accused of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. Meanwhile, digital rights groups reported that hackers linked to Russian intelligence are targeting Kremlin critics and Western diplomats with phishing attacks.
In Russia, over 10,000 cases have been filed against individuals accused of “discrediting” the military since the invasion began, according to Mediazona. Polish prosecutors also indicted dual Russian-Spanish national Pavel Rubtsov on espionage charges. Lastly, China’s envoy discussed the conflict with Pope Francis’s special envoy.
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