President Vladimir Putin has vowed a significant retaliation in response to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian border regions. Speaking at an operational meeting on Monday, Putin emphasised that the Russian military’s primary objective is to expel Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.
Putin assured that the Russian response will be forceful and that all military goals will be met. His remarks came after Ukrainian forces crossed into the Kursk region of Russia, capturing 28 settlements. This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that an operation is underway in the Kursk region. He reported that Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky is leading defensive actions and has instructed key officials, including the Security Service and Interior Minister, to prepare a humanitarian response for the affected area.
According to Ukrainian sources, Ukrainian forces now control approximately 1,000 square kilometres of Russian land. The Ukrainian Air Force also reported that Russia launched 38 Shahed-type drones in Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian air defences intercepted 30 of these drones, which were destroyed across several regions.
In addition to the drone attacks, Russian forces fired two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, damaging infrastructure such as a gas pipeline and a hospital in the northeastern city of Sumy. This attack resulted in one injury, as confirmed by local authorities.
On Tuesday morning, Ukraine issued a nationwide air alert after a MIG-31 fighter jet, carrying Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, took off from Russia. The situation was further complicated by damage to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which suffered a fire in its cooling systems over the weekend.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating the damage but has not yet determined the cause. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of causing the incident, but the agency reported that there is no elevated radiation and the plant’s nuclear safety remains intact.
As tensions continue to rise, both nations are preparing for further developments in this volatile situation.
Follow us
