The Russian military has escalated its attacks in eastern Ukraine, as military officials reported Tuesday, while simultaneously Russian forces aim to contain a surprising weeklong intrusion by Ukrainian troops into Russia.
The General Staff of Ukraine stated that in the past 24 hours, Russian troops initiated 52 assaults in the Pokrovsk area in Ukraine’s Donetsk region near the front line, double the number from a week earlier.
Ukraine claims that its incursion into Russian territory starting on August 6 has covered around 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of land, with the intent behind the swift advancement into the Kursk region remaining a classified military detail.
Speculations suggest that Ukraine’s move was an attempt to relieve pressure on its front line by luring Russian forces into defending Kursk and other border regions; however, the increased attacks near Pokrovsk indicate that Moscow did not take the bait.
The cross-border operation into Russia, described as the largest attack since World War II, has caused concern in the Kremlin, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to convene a meeting with top defense officials on Monday.
Despite Russia claiming to have evacuated around 121,000 individuals from Kursk or those who fled due to the ongoing conflict, the Institute for the Study of War suggests that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the border.
Russian reports indicate that the Defense Ministry blocked an assault by Ukrainian armed forces near Maryinka from advancing towards that distance.
Television footage showed evacuated residents queuing for supplies, while aid was being distributed to those in need by volunteers and Ministry of Emergency Situations officials assisting with transportation.
One elderly man shared his experience, highlighting the chaos caused by the conflict and the desperate situation faced by those in the affected areas.
Russian President Putin dismissed Ukraine’s motives behind the incursion, labeling it an attempt to incite unrest that he believed would be unsuccessful.
The successful breach of the border into Russia was surprising, given Ukraine’s shortage of troops on the front lines awaiting new brigades to complete training.
Analysts noted that Ukraine’s tactical move exploited divisions among various Russian commands in Kursk, including border guards, Ministry of Defense forces, and Chechen units fighting on Russia’s behalf.
The Ukrainian Army General Staff declared the establishment of a 20-kilometer (12-mile) restricted zone along the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Sumy region near Kursk, citing increased combat intensity and the presence of Russian reconnaissance and sabotage units in the area as reasons for the measure.