Ukraine continues to bombard Russia’s Kursk as confrontation continues
Ukraine continued to pound Russia’s Kursk border region with missiles and drones on Wednesday, and Kiev said it had made further gains on the ground in an incursion that US President Joe Biden described as a “real dilemma” for Putin.
The acting governor of the Kursk region said early Wednesday that four Ukrainian missiles had been destroyed over Kursk, while air raid warnings continued intermittently overnight across the entire region.
Kyiv said on Tuesday it had taken control of 74 settlements in Kursk, a week after thousands of Ukrainian troops launched a surprise cross-border attack.
Ukraine’s account contradicts Russia’s assertions that Kyiv’s advance has been halted and attacks have been repelled in villages about 26 to 28 kilometers from the border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the offensive was aimed at improving Kiev’s negotiating position ahead of any potential talks and slowing Russia’s advance on the front lines.
Biden said Washington was in constant contact with Kyiv about the operation, although the White House had previously said it wasn’t involved in any aspect of the planning or preparation… “It creates a real dilemma for Putin,” Biden added.
Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the border region of Belgorod south of Kursk, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, citing continued attacks by Ukrainian forces. He said he would ask Moscow to declare a federal state of emergency.
“The situation in the Belgorod region remains very difficult and tense,” Governor Gladkov said in a video posted on Telegram.
