News Desk

The Advocate Post: A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region due to a rare cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces, continuing into Wednesday. The acting regional governor, Alexei Smirnov, stated that this measure is necessary to address the impact of the invasion. Russian officials reported that at least five civilians have been killed and 31 injured, including six children, since the incursion began. Ukraine has not officially commented on the situation, and the extent of the incursion remains unclear.

On Tuesday, Moscow reported that up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops, along with tanks and armored vehicles, crossed into Russia near Sudzha. Fighting occurred in several villages, leading local authorities to advise residents to stay indoors and cancel public events. Air alerts were issued in Kursk, and footage verified by the BBC showed fighter jets and smoke rising from the region. Thousands were evacuated, and additional medical personnel were brought in.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko claimed that the Ukrainian army took control of the Sudzha gas hub, a key facility for Russian gas transit to the EU. Although this claim is unverified, it marks the first acknowledgment of a Ukrainian incursion by an official. Honcharenko suggested the operation aimed to demonstrate to Europe and the U.S. that Russia can be targeted.