Russia says Ukrainian forces attempt to pierce Russian border near Kursk

Russia has advanced this year after the failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to achieve any major gains, and has taken 420 sq km of territory from Ukrainian forces since Jun 14

Ukraine struck Russia's Kursk region with drones and rockets on Wednesday (Aug 7) as part of what Russian officials said was a major attempt to smash through the Russian border and force Russian generals to scramble troops from other parts of the front.

Russia has advanced this year after the failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to achieve any major gains, and has taken 420 sq km of territory from Ukrainian forces since Jun 14, Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia's security council, has said.

Ukraine struck back on Tuesday.

Ukrainian forces unleashed a major attack by land and air to penetrate Russia near the border town of Sudzha, 530km southwest of Moscow, the defence ministry and other Russian officials said. It is the last operational trans-shipping point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine.

The officials said Russia repelled the attacks - one of the largest incursions into Russia since the war began in 2022 - but there were signs of major military movements in the area. Russia sent reserves to help shore up Russian defences.

Ukraine has not commented on the events.

Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of the Kursk region, said there had been rocket and drone attacks overnight, and told civilians to take cover away from windows.