Russia has declared a counterterrorism operation in the border region following an incursion by Ukrainian forces that caught Russian troops off-guard. The Russian Defense Ministry reported ongoing fighting in the Kursk region, with airstrikes conducted against Ukrainian forces using a thermobaric bomb. Measures have been implemented in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions to enhance security, including the relocation of residents, control of phone communications, and requisition of vehicles.
The raid, which began on Tuesday, marks the largest cross-border foray of the 2 1/2-year-old war, raising concerns about the conflict spreading beyond Ukraine. In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarusian air defenses shot down objects launched from Ukraine flying over Belarusian territory.
A Russian missile struck a shopping mall in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, killing at least 14 people and injuring 44 others. This attack follows a similar incident last September when a missile hit an outdoor market in the town, claiming 17 lives. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported the heaviest civilian casualties in July since October 2022, with conflict-related violence causing the deaths of at least 219 civilians and injuring 1,018.
Russia is sending reinforcements to Kursk to counter Ukraine's raid, deploying multiple rocket launchers, towed artillery guns, tanks, and heavy tracked vehicles. Fighting has been reported in the outskirts of Sudzha, an important pipeline transit hub for Russian natural gas exports to Europe.
The strategic aims of the Ukrainian operation remain unclear, with Ukrainian officials declining to comment on the incursion. The United States has stated that it is in communication with Ukrainian counterparts but refrained from commenting until discussions are concluded. Defense analysts suggest that the Ukrainians have a clear military objective, with the raid serving as a significant display of force and a challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
