Ukraine targeted the Kursk region of Russia with a sequence of drone strikes on Tuesday after a series of vehement events signaled Ukraine encroaching into Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that its forces had shot down 12 Ukrainian drones over the Kursk area; a week ago, Kyiv stated that it controlled about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of the territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the Western support for Ukraine, describing such actions as aimed at improving Kyiv’s stance in the expected peace talks.

In his longest public comments about the attacks yet, Putin said Ukraine is trying to slow Russian troops’ advance, in a war Russia calls a ‘special operation’ in Ukraine. He also raised doubts about possible talks with Ukraine amid accusations of attacks on Russian people and nuclear facilities.

The Chief of Ukrainian General Staff, Lt-Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, informed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukraine’s armed forces maintained their counter-offensive across the Russian border, estimating that Kyiv’s military controlled around 1,000 square km of Russian territory. According to the deputy head of the People’s Assembly Alexei Smirnov, who is also the acting governor of the Kursk region, Ukraine occupied 28 settlements; the intrusion was 12 kilometers (7. 5 miles) at the greatest depth and 40 kilometers (25 miles) breadth.

At present, people are being evacuated in Kursk, 121 thousand of which have been evacuated, and 59 thousand are in the process. Corresponding actions are being taken in Belgorod region, where 11000 civilian population has been evacuated.

In the middle of the rising tensions, the Ukrainian forces plan to surround Sudzha—an important hub through which the Russians pump natural gas into Ukraine. Severe fighting is alleged to have taken place near Korenevo and Martynovka, per military blogosphere. 

At the same time, Russia launched 38 attack drones and two ballistic missiles in the attack on Ukraine through the night. The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 30 drones across eight provinces; buildings were fired in Sumy, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, and Mykolaiv provinces, but there were no reported deaths. 

Putin described Ukraine’s incursion as the largest since the beginning of the war in February this year, which can complicate peace negotiations. He also said that Russian forces are moving on the main front and that Kiev actions must be met with force.

The conflict still exerts pressure on both countries, with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy commenting on conflict’s return to the Russian territory as a security issue to Ukraine. He underlined the necessity to regain territories, from which Russia stages its attacks.

Having witnessed Ukraine’s military muscles, the incursion has raised further the stakes for arguments, among Russian hawks and strategists, on the ineffectiveness of ceasefires and the need to advance deeper into Ukraine.

This escalation occurs right at the time when both countries are weighing the prospects of peace talks, but with diametrically opposing visions of what this might look like. However, the US presidential elections are just around the corner, which puts a question mark over the continued American support for Ukraine, especially if Trump who has pledged to put an end to the conflict regains power.

As the conflict continues, Russia remains focused on bolstering its defenses in the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions, amidst ongoing criticism of its military leadership from Russian nationalists. Despite recent setbacks, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of Lysychne in Ukraine's Donetsk region, though these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
The conflict has also affected the Russian economy, with the ruble losing 6% of its value against the U. S. dollar since the incursion into Kursk. Gazprom reported plans to deliver 39. 6 million cubic meters of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Monday, underscoring the geopolitical stakes involved.