Zelensky: Russia Must Face Consequences of War Amid Ukrainian Attack

Post by: Elena Malik

Photo : AFP

Three days into Ukraine’s cross-border assault on Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Moscow must "feel" the repercussions of its invasion of Ukraine. In a Thursday evening address, Zelensky stated, “Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done,” though he did not directly mention the ongoing Ukrainian offensive.

The attack, described as one of the most significant assaults on Russian soil since the conflict began, reportedly involved over 1,000 Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks and armored vehicles. Russia has characterized the operation as a "major provocation," with President Vladimir Putin condemning it as such. The full extent of the offensive's impact remains unclear, with both sides releasing limited information.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is closely monitoring the nuclear plant in Kursk amid concerns about potential safety impacts from the conflict. The Russian Defense Ministry has reported that its forces are actively targeting Ukrainian units with air strikes, rockets, and artillery. Additional Russian reserves have been deployed to the region in response to the attack.

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Geo-located footage from the Institute for the Study of War indicates that Ukrainian armored vehicles advanced approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Kursk during the first two days of the incursion. The situation on the ground is under intense scrutiny, with pro-war Telegram channels criticizing Russian military leadership for perceived failures in addressing the threat.

Russian authorities are taking measures to evacuate civilians from affected areas. Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov reported efforts to transport residents to safer regions, though these operations have been hindered by Ukrainian shelling. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 75 UAV missiles, reportedly targeting Kursk, were intercepted and destroyed on Friday morning.

In addition, a fire at a military airfield in the neighboring Lipetsk region has been reported, though the cause remains unclear and its connection to the Kursk conflict is not confirmed. Lipetsk had previously issued a red threat level alert, later lifted on Friday.

Local authorities in both Russia and Ukraine have advised residents in adjacent regions to evacuate for safety. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko announced that Ukrainian forces had taken control of the Sudzha gas hub, a critical facility for the transit of natural gas from Russia to the EU. Despite the conflict, gas flow through Sudzha reportedly continues.

Ukraine’s allies, including the United States, have expressed surprise at the scale of the offensive, with the White House seeking clarification on Ukraine’s objectives. This incursion follows previous cross-border raids and clashes by anti-Kremlin groups, marking a continuation of heightened tensions in the region.

As the situation develops, Russia's National Guard has intensified security around Kursk’s nuclear power station, located about 70 kilometers northeast of Sudzha. Meanwhile, Russian forces have made incremental advances in eastern Ukraine, with predictions of a major Russian offensive potentially concluding in the next two months.

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