Ukraine braces for reprisals as Russia to send more troops to Kursk

Russia has imposed ‘anti-terror’ measures in western Kursk and in the nearby regions of Bryansk and Belgorod.

Ukraine flag

Ukraine is bracing for more Russian attacks in retaliation for its cross-border incursion into the Kursk region as Russia was moving in reinforcements, including troops, extra tanks, artillery and rocket systems, the authorities said.

On Saturday, Russia introduced “anti-terrorism measures” in three regions bordering Ukraine, Russian news agencies quoted officials as saying.

The measures by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee in Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk included limits on transport in specific areas, tightened security around sensitive sites, and wiretaps of telephone and other communications, according to RIA news agency.

The statement said the decision, taken by Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), was in response to Ukraine’s “unprecedented attempt to destablise the situation in a series of regions”.

More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from areas in the Kursk region, the local emergency ministry was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying on Saturday.

Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in Kursk on Tuesday, in the most significant attack across the border since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.