What was initially described by Russian actors as a raid on a limited scale has turned out to be much more than that.
Ukrainian forces are stated by Russian authorities to currently control 28 towns in the Kursk region, Russian state media write. 121,000 people are said to have left the border areas with Ukraine at the same time, according to the region’s acting governor.
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Exactly which areas are controlled by whom is currently unclear. On Sunday, however, Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that it had repelled Ukrainian attacks at Obshchii Kolodez, nearly 30 kilometers from the border.
Source: Thousands of troops in the area
Ukrainian authorities have so far been tight-lipped about the whereabouts of their troops. However, President Zelenskyy has described the attack as a response to the Russian drone, robot and artillery attacks that have taken place against Ukraine from the region.
The number of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region was initially estimated at around 1,000 soldiers. But the figure was dismissed on Sunday by an anonymous Ukrainian military source for the AFP news agency.
– There are many more than that. Thousands, says the person and continues:
– The goal is to stretch the enemy’s positions, inflict maximum losses and destabilize the situation in Russia as they are unable to defend their own border.
Criticism of the Russian top echelon
Russian military bloggers have since the beginning of the attack directed criticism at the Russian leadership, which they say should have foreseen an incursion across the border.
Many have pointed out that the attack is certainly unique in its scope, but that Ukrainian forces have entered Russian border regions on several previous occasions.
Reports in Russian channels have claimed that a large gathering of Ukrainian soldiers was spotted at the border even before the attack began, but that conscripts and border guards were forced to stand alone once it began.
Evacuations in Belgorod
On Monday, authorities in the nearby Russian Belgorod region also stated that 11,000 civilians had been evacuated from the border areas with Ukraine.
The reason was stated to be that Ukrainian soldiers are moving in the area. Meanwhile, Russian Telegram channels claim that fighting is taking place at a border post near the town of Kolotilovka, but the extent of this is still unclear.