“Ukrainian Forces Make Deepest Push into Russian Territory Since Invasion, Advancing 30km in Kursk Region”

Ukrainian forces have made a significant advance, pushing up to 30 kilometers inside Russian territory. This incursion marks the deepest penetration since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Ukrainian offensive, focused in the Kursk region, has now entered its sixth day, with Russian forces reportedly engaging Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, condemned the Ukrainian incursion, accusing Kyiv of attempting to “intimidate the peaceful population of Russia.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the operation, asserting that Ukraine was bringing the war to Russian territory. In his nightly address, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s resolve to restore justice and maintain pressure on the aggressor. He also praised Ukrainian troops for their bravery and revealed that he had discussed the operation with Ukraine’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

A senior Ukrainian official disclosed that the operation involved thousands of troops, surpassing the scale of earlier reported incursions by Russian border guards. While Ukrainian-backed sabotage groups have previously launched cross-border attacks, this offensive in Kursk represents the largest coordinated assault on Russian soil by Kyiv’s conventional forces. The official explained that the objective of the operation is to stretch Russian defenses, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize the situation within Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had thwarted attempts by Ukrainian mobile groups with armored vehicles to penetrate deep into Russian territory. However, the ministry’s reports of engagements with Ukrainian forces near Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez suggest that Kyiv’s troops have made significant inroads into the Kursk border region. Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly captured several settlements, including Guevo, where they filmed themselves removing the Russian flag from an administrative building.

In addition to capturing settlements, Ukrainian troops have been seen seizing administrative buildings in Sverdlikovo and Poroz, with intense fighting reported in Sudzha, a town of about 5,000 people. Ukrainian forces also filmed themselves near a major gas facility outside Sudzha, highlighting the strategic importance of this operation. As the offensive continues, armored personnel carriers and tanks have been observed moving from Sumy towards Russia, signaling the ongoing intensity of the conflict.