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Ukraine Launches Surprise Attack Into Russian Territory, Kremlin Reports
Russian officials detail ongoing heavy fighting, but Ukraine has yet to confirm the assault.
An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
Alexandra Sharp
By Alexandra Sharp, the World Brief writer at Foreign Policy.
A destroyed house is seen in Russia’s Kursk region.
A destroyed house is seen in Russia’s Kursk region.
A destroyed house, shown in a supplied image from the acting governor of Russia’s Kursk region, is seen following what local authorities called a Ukrainian military strike in Russia’s Kursk region on Aug. 6. Telegram via Alexei Smirnov/Handout via Reuters
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August 7, 2024, 7:00 PM
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Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a possible Ukrainian incursion into Russia, far-right rioting in the United Kingdom, and Bangladesh’s new interim government.
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Bringing the Battle to Russia
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict two years on.
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Ukraine Launches Surprise Attack Into Russian Territory, Kremlin Reports
Russian officials detail ongoing heavy fighting, but Ukraine has yet to confirm the assault.
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Ukraine launched a rare cross-border armored incursion into Russian territory on Tuesday, according to the Kremlin and independent military analysts, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to convene his Security Council on Wednesday. This is a “major provocation,” Putin said, citing heavy fighting in Russia’s western Kursk region. Ukraine has not yet confirmed reports of such an assault.
If confirmed, the operation would represent one of the largest Ukrainian military incursions into Russian territory since the war began in February 2022. Armed Russian exiles and other anti-Kremlin fighters aligned with Kyiv have carried out similar operations in the past, rather than the Ukrainian military directly being involved. In this case, though, it appears that Ukrainian forces are taking part in the operation. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who commands Russia’s forces in Ukraine, said as many as 1,000 Ukrainian troops participated in the assault, though Foreign Policy could not confirm that number.
Ukraine’s purpose in possibly launching such an attack wasn’t immediately clear. Some military experts suggest that Kyiv could be trying to overstretch Russian forces, thereby relieving pressure on embattled Ukrainian troops on the front lines elsewhere. But the incursion could also have a political component, Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker from Odesa, told FP’s Jack Detsch. Goncharenko made it clear that he did not have confirmation that the Ukrainian military was involved in the fighting in Kursk, but he said such an attack could be an effort from Kyiv to pressure the United States to further extend its envelope for using U.S.-provided weapons inside Russia.
Save
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World Brief
FP’s flagship daily newsletter, catching you up on 24 hours of news in five minutes. Delivered weekdays.
Ukraine Launches Surprise Attack Into Russian Territory, Kremlin Reports
Russian officials detail ongoing heavy fighting, but Ukraine has yet to confirm the assault.
An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
An illustration of Alexandra Sharp, World Brief newsletter writer
Alexandra Sharp
By Alexandra Sharp, the World Brief writer at Foreign Policy.
A destroyed house is seen in Russia’s Kursk region.
A destroyed house is seen in Russia’s Kursk region.
A destroyed house, shown in a supplied image from the acting governor of Russia’s Kursk region, is seen following what local authorities called a Ukrainian military strike in Russia’s Kursk region on Aug. 6. Telegram via Alexei Smirnov/Handout via Reuters
My FP: Follow topics and authors to get straight to what you like. Exclusively for FP subscribers. Subscribe Now | Log In
August 7, 2024, 7:00 PM
View Comments (0)
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a possible Ukrainian incursion into Russia, far-right rioting in the United Kingdom, and Bangladesh’s new interim government.
Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.
Enter your email
Sign Up
Bringing the Battle to Russia
Russia’s War in Ukraine
Understanding the conflict two years on.
Trending Articles
Ukraine Launches Surprise Attack Into Russian Territory, Kremlin Reports
Russian officials detail ongoing heavy fighting, but Ukraine has yet to confirm the assault.
Powered By Trackerdslogo
Ukraine launched a rare cross-border armored incursion into Russian territory on Tuesday, according to the Kremlin and independent military analysts, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to convene his Security Council on Wednesday. This is a “major provocation,” Putin said, citing heavy fighting in Russia’s western Kursk region. Ukraine has not yet confirmed reports of such an assault.
If confirmed, the operation would represent one of the largest Ukrainian military incursions into Russian territory since the war began in February 2022. Armed Russian exiles and other anti-Kremlin fighters aligned with Kyiv have carried out similar operations in the past, rather than the Ukrainian military directly being involved. In this case, though, it appears that Ukrainian forces are taking part in the operation. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who commands Russia’s forces in Ukraine, said as many as 1,000 Ukrainian troops participated in the assault, though Foreign Policy could not confirm that number.
Ukraine’s purpose in possibly launching such an attack wasn’t immediately clear. Some military experts suggest that Kyiv could be trying to overstretch Russian forces, thereby relieving pressure on embattled Ukrainian troops on the front lines elsewhere. But the incursion could also have a political component, Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker from Odesa, told FP’s Jack Detsch. Goncharenko made it clear that he did not have confirmation that the Ukrainian military was involved in the fighting in Kursk, but he said such an attack could be an effort from Kyiv to pressure the United States to further extend its envelope for using U.S.-provided weapons inside Russia.