Ukraine News:

Russia Reacts to Ukraine’s Advance into Kursk Region

Written by Edda Bevilacqua

Russia reacted to Ukraine’s advance into the Kursk region, saying it did not deserve to be targeted in Ukraine’s surprise offensive. Russia said that the people inside the Kursk region were “peaceful” and didn’t deserve this attack. Ukraine’s latest offensive put Russia the back foot in the war.

In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of “intimidating the peaceful people of Russia with its Kursk offensive.” Ukraine sent ground forces into Kursk in a surprise offensive that caught Russia off guard. The advance involved the use of Ukrainian armor and troops inside Russia’s borders, an unusual tactic. Typically, Ukraine has used drones and missiles.

Zakharova’s statement was considered ironic, given the heavy toll Russia has placed on Ukraine over the last two years. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Russia’s statement was “rich” given its invasion of Ukraine. Mykhailo Podalyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that “events in Kursk provide an opportunity for a real-life test of whether the Russian people truly oppose the war in Ukraine.” Additionally, he said, “Liberated Russians could greet anti-Putin tanks with flowers, signaling finally freedom,” a scenario he thinks is unlikely.