Russia Claims Repulsion of Ukrainian Incursions in Kursk Region

On September 29, 2024, the Russian defense ministry reported repelling six Ukrainian attempts to enter the western Kursk region. The ministry stated that these attempts occurred near the village of Novy Put, approximately 79 kilometers west of Sudzha, a crucial crossing point for Russian natural gas exports to Europe via Ukraine.

Russia claims its forces, supported by aircraft and artillery, successfully thwarted these incursions. The defense ministry also reported gaining control of Makiivka, a settlement in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

This recent development follows a significant Ukrainian attack on August 6, 2024, which was described as the largest foreign incursion into Russian territory since World War II. During that operation, Ukrainian forces reportedly breached the border into the Kursk region, utilizing drones and heavy weaponry, including Western-supplied arms.

Earlier in September 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, claimed that Ukrainian forces controlled 100 settlements in the Kursk region, covering an area exceeding 1,300 square kilometers. However, Russian sources have disputed this figure and assert that they have since reclaimed some villages in a counter-attack.

The Russian defense ministry reported that the latest attempted incursion resulted in 50 Ukrainian servicemen being killed or injured, though the exact number of fatalities was not specified. They also claimed the destruction of a tank, four combat armored vehicles, and a car.

It's important to note that these battlefield reports have not been independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented on these specific claims.

In addition to the ground operations, the Russian defense ministry reported that their air defense systems intercepted 125 Ukrainian drones overnight. Concurrently, a residential apartment in the western Russian city of Voronezh was reportedly hit, according to the local governor.

This ongoing conflict is part of the broader Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale invasion by Russia on February 24, 2022. The war has had far-reaching consequences, including the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II and significant global economic impacts, particularly on energy and food prices.

The international community, including NATO members, has provided substantial military aid to Ukraine since 2022. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while both sides have accused each other of committing war crimes.

As the war continues, it has led to a significant shift in European security policies and has drawn attention to the strategic importance of regions like Kursk, which borders Ukraine to the southwest. The conflict has also highlighted the increasing role of modern warfare technologies, such as drones, which have played a significant part in military operations on both sides.