Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported a Russian missile attack in the city of Sumy that resulted in a blaze, injuring two individuals and causing damage to cars and nearby buildings. This attack, involving an Iskander-K cruise missile and an aerial bomb, marks a continued assault on Ukraine by Russia despite Ukrainian forces making advancements into Russia’s Kursk border region.
The article details the ongoing fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, with Ukrainian troops being deployed since August 6 in an attempt to divert the Kremlin’s military focus away from the front line in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have seized the town of Sudzha, the largest town to fall to Ukraine’s troops since the incursion began. The town’s central square bears the scars of artillery fire, with a statue of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin damaged and a local administration building scorched and filled with bullet holes.
Russian military correspondents, such as Alexander Kots, acknowledge the pressure from Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Despite stabilization in some areas, there are ongoing attempts by the enemy to expand their presence. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of destroying a bridge with U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, hindering Russian military supply deliveries in the region.
The incursion into the Kursk region, involving as many as 10,000 Ukrainian troops, has led to the evacuation of over 120,000 civilians. Activists and opposition members in the region express shock and panic over the conflict, with many residents displaced and frightened. Approximately 10,000 evacuees, including 3,000 children, are being housed in temporary accommodation centers across the country.
Detention of Russian Troops
Ukrainian forces have captured a number of Russian troops during their advancement into the Kursk region. Reports from a detention center visited by the Associated Press reveal POWs walking with their hands tied behind their backs and consuming meager rations of soup with cabbage and onions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praises Ukrainian soldiers for capturing Russian military personnel and emphasizes the country’s efforts to replenish its exchange fund for the return of Ukrainian POWs.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Kursk region continues to escalate, with both sides engaged in intense fighting and military maneuvers. The impact on civilians, the capture of Russian troops, and the destruction of infrastructure all highlight the devastating consequences of this conflict. The situation remains fluid and unpredictable, with the international community closely monitoring developments and urging for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.