Ukrainian forces push 30km into Russian territory in deepest incursion since country’s invasion

Aug 12: Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometres into Russian territory, marking the deepest incursion since the Russia–Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022.The advance, concentrated in the Kursk region, has entered its sixth day, with Ukrainian troops reportedly capturing several settlements and seizing key administrative buildings.Russia’s defence ministry acknowledged the severity of the situation, confirming that its forces engaged Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, located 25 to 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border. Despite claims of “foiling attempts” by Ukrainian mobile groups to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, the admissions suggest a significant breach in Russian defences.offensive has provoked strong reactions from Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of “intimidating the peaceful population of Russia.” Meanwhile, local authorities in the Kursk region declared a state of emergency, with acting regional governor Aleksei Smirnov reporting the evacuation of 76,000 people from border areas. The situation escalated further when 15 people were injured after the wreckage of a downed Ukrainian missile struck a multi-storey building in Kursk’s regional capital.