The Kremlin rushed reinforcements to the Kursk region in response to ongoing battles with Ukrainian troops, resulting in over 1,600 Ukrainian troops being lost. Military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov previously stated that fewer troops had attempted the incursion. The conflict has dealt a blow to Putin’s internal standing, with military bloggers suggesting that fighting inside Russia continues and neighboring regions are at risk.
Images of Ukrainian troops in Russia have surfaced on social media, including a video of a Ukrainian flag being raised in Guevo and Russian flag being removed from an administration building in Sverdlikovo. A national emergency was declared last week, leading to evacuations and reports of civilian casualties in the region. More evacuations were announced in the Belovsky district, where Ukrainian troops tried to break through.
Putin warned of potential attacks on other Russian border regions by Ukraine, including the Bryansk region. Both sides accused each other of endangering Europe’s largest nuclear plant after a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy claimed that Russian forces occupying the plant started the fire, while Moscow blamed Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the presence of strong dark smoke following multiple explosions at the plant but stated that there was no impact on nuclear safety.
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