Russia begins counteroffensive in opposition to Ukrainian forces in Kursk

Russia started a significant counteroffensive to push again Ukrainian forces from its southern Kursk area, as Vladimir Putin warned that if Nato nations allowed Kyiv to make use of western-made weapons for strikes deep inside his nation, Moscow would take into account them “at conflict”.

The Russian defence ministry stated on Thursday its forces had retaken 10 settlements in Kursk, or about 63 sq km of land, after Ukrainian troops stormed throughout the border and seized a number of the area in a shock assault final month.

Ukrainian forces entered Russia on August 6, capturing about 1,200 sq km within the area of 10 days, in what amounted to the primary incursion into Russian territory because the second world conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated final week that he supposed for these troops to remain in Kursk indefinitely, indicating a hope of utilizing the seized territory as a bargaining chip in any future peace negotiations.

The Russian counteroffensive in Kursk has homed in on the left flank of the Ukrainian navy contingent within the space, from the settlement of Krasnooktyabrskoe right down to the border cities of Snagost and Gordeevka.

Russian forces have captured at the very least 10 Ukrainian troopers, in accordance with drone footage shared on social media.

“The [Ukrainians] have been squeezed on their western flank right down to Snagost, and surprisingly simply. It appears the [Ukrainians] actually didn’t have main forces there,” stated an individual near the Russian navy institution.

However there was no additional motion since, and it remained unclear whether or not the Russian push marked a major turning level, added this individual.

A western analyst who declined to be recognized stated Russia appeared to have taken at the very least one Ukrainian navy unit abruptly.

Ukraine may at all times reply with a counterattack, and was unlikely to be pushed out of Kursk utterly within the close to future because it had higher brigades in different areas, added the analyst. “However their territorial maintain could lower.”

A senior Ukrainian navy intelligence official described the Russian positive factors in Kursk as purely tactical and stated the push couldn’t be described as a large-scale assault.

Zelenskyy confirmed the Russian counteroffensive on Thursday however stated “the whole lot was going in accordance with Ukraine’s plan”.

The counteroffensive comes as Ukraine’s western allies focus on the potential for lifting restrictions on Kyiv utilizing western-made, long-range weapons far inside Russia, focusing on navy websites that Moscow has utilised in current months to launch a string of lethal assaults.

US President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday he was “working” on Kyiv’s request to elevate restrictions on utilizing the US-made Military Tactical Missile System to focus on such websites.

Using these, and likewise UK-France-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, is anticipated to be mentioned when Biden holds talks with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday.

Putin on Thursday stated the use by Ukraine of such western weapons — which he urged may solely be guided utilizing satellite tv for pc knowledge equipped by Nato — can be thought of “direct participation” by western capitals within the battle in Ukraine and would “considerably change the very essence, the very nature of the battle”.

“It would imply that Nato international locations, the US, European international locations are at conflict with Russia,” Putin was cited by the Tass state information company as saying. “If this turns into the case . . . we are going to make applicable selections.”

Putin has beforehand warned western capitals in opposition to supporting Ukraine by threatening the prospect of a wider conflict, however his newest feedback marked a few of his most aggressive language to this point.

Kyiv hoped its Kursk incursion would divert Russia’s best-trained troops away from their frontline positions within the Donetsk area of jap Ukraine — however that has not to this point materialised, in accordance with the highest commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, Oleksandr Syrsky.

The counteroffensive in Kursk is being carried out by Russian infantry assault and marine brigades that have been pulled from different areas comparable to Kherson, in accordance with the senior Ukrainian navy intelligence official. Russia has despatched near 38,000 troops to the area, stated this individual.

In lots of areas of the frontline in jap Ukraine, Moscow’s troops have been making regular positive factors in current weeks, with its forces progressively approaching town of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub.

Two-thirds of Pokrovsk residents have now been evacuated, stated town’s authorities.

In the meantime, a Russian missile on Thursday hit a foreign-flagged cargo ship within the Black Sea carrying wheat sure for Egypt shortly after it left Ukrainian waters, eroding belief within the security of a key commerce artery that’s essential each for world meals provides and Ukraine’s economic system.

The ship, named Aya, had departed the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk on Wednesday with greater than 26,000 tonnes of wheat, and was hit by the Russian missile whereas in Romania’s maritime financial zone.

Ambrey, a maritime safety agency, stated the ship managed to sail to Romania beneath its personal energy regardless of sustaining injury.

Extra reporting by Robert Wright in London