Russia warns of far wider conflict after incursion

The situation in Kursk is becoming a huge test for Putin, the first Russian leader to lose territory to a foreign power since WWII.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: AFP

Moscow has warned that Kyiv’s “crazy” incursion into its territory, which has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes, could provoke a wider conflict.

The SVR foreign intelligence service told Reuters: “Zelensky is taking crazy steps that threaten to escalate far beyond Ukraine.”

The raid on the Kursk region is the largest incursion on Russian territory in more than two years of war. Commenting for the first time on Kyiv’s ambitions for the operation, Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, said the country was “not interested in taking over” Russian territory.

“Unlike Russia, Ukraine does not need other people’s property [but] we want to protect the lives of our people,” he added.

There was fierce fighting across the Kursk region yesterday as Ukrainian forces tried to advance. Moscow said it was striking back with reinforcements and heavy weaponry that had repelled most of the attacks. Video published by the Russian defence ministry appeared to show Su-34 bombers attacking Ukrainian troops and infantry storming their positions.

President Zelensky claimed his forces had made further gains yesterday, taking control of 74 settlements in the Kursk region.

Putin insisted that any hope that Ukraine might have of stalling Russia’s advance on the eastern front by diverting troops to Kursk would not succeed. The Russian leader vowed to “kick the enemy out of our territory”.

The situation in Kursk is becoming a huge test for the president, the first to lose territory to a foreign power since the Second World War.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 43rd Artillery Brigade fire self-propelled artillery 2S7 Pion toward Russian positions, in an undisclosed area, in the Pokrovsk district, in the eastern Donetsk region. Picture: AFP

Putin, who has threatened to use nuclear weapons in the war, alleged that Kyiv’s operations were being carried out “with the help of its western masters”. He also accused Ukrainian troops of firing indiscriminately at civilians and threatening the safety of the Kursk nuclear power station.

A Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman said that the incursion would be halted only when Russia “agrees to a just peace”.

Putin had earlier ruled out talks with Kyiv, saying on Monday: “What is there to even talk about with them?”

The Times