Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed to respond to Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region. Russia has imposed tight security in border regions including the Bryansk and Belgorod regions amid Ukrainian troops' advancement.
Putin said that Ukraine’s latest attack was an attempt to stop Moscow’s offensive in the Donbas region.
He also added that Ukraine was trying to improve its negotiating position with its attack. “What kind of negotiations can be talked about the people who fire at civilians,” said Putin.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and now controls 18% of Ukrainian territory.
“Ukraine will seek to further destabilise the border regions...It is trying to slow our advance at other parts of the front. Ukraine is trying to intimidate Russian society and to undermine stability,” said Putin.
Putin held a meeting with Russian top officials and regional governors amid tensions along the border.
"The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces are increasing dramatically for them, including among the most combat-ready units, units that the enemy is transferring to our border," said Putin in a televised address.
ALSO READ | Russia begins counter-terror operation in border regions after Ukraine incursion
In the Belgorod region to the south, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said evacuations had begun from the Krasnaya Yaruga District. "I am sure that our servicemen will do everything to cope with the threat that has arisen," Gladkov said.
“We are starting to move people who live in the Krasnaya Yaruga district to safer
places,” added Gladkov.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces had started a fire at the plant. While Zaporizhzhia's Kremlin-installed governor said Ukrainian shelling caused the blaze.
However, no severe impact was reported.
Russia had launched a counter-terror operation against Ukraine’s latest incursion. According to Russian war bloggers, Ukrainian forces in Kursk were trying to encircle Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine. Major battles are also underway near Korenevo and Martynovka.
