Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of ‘large-scale provocation’ in Russia's Kursk region

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (August 7) accused Ukraine of launching a "large-scale provocation" in Russia's Kursk region, where intense battles raged for the second day.

This comes as Moscow reported earlier in the day that its forces were fighting intense battles against Ukrainian unitsnear the border town of Sudzha, about 530 km southwest of Moscow.

Putin's provocation claims

According to AFP,Putin allegedthat Kyiv was indiscriminately attacking civilian targets, including residential buildings and ambulances.

"As you know, the Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation," he said in a televised meeting with government officials.

"It is firing indiscriminately from various types of weapons, including rockets, at civilian buildings, residential houses and ambulances."

During the meeting,Russia's army chief Valery Gerasimov told Putin on Wednesday that up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops took part in a cross-border attack on Russia's Kursk region.

He said that "a unit of Ukraine's armed forces numbering up to 1,000 people went on the offensive," looking to seize Russianterritory.

Ukraine forces push into Russian territory

Russia on Wednesday reported that Ukraine forces have attempted to push into its territory and its forces were engaged in fierce fighting to counter that.

The clash, one of the largest incursions into Russia since the conflict began in February 2022, has seen Ukrainian forces push into the Kursk region, close to the border.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated that Russian forces are actively defending against Ukrainian advances, using air strikes, artillery, and missile fire. They reported the destruction of 50 armoured vehicles, including tanks and personnel carriers.

Sudzha, a key transit point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine, and the Kursk nuclear power station are within proximity of the conflict zone.

Niger cuts ties with Ukraine

Meanwhile, Niger's junta on Tuesday (August 6) severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine, following comments by Ukraine's spy agency that suggested Ukrainian support for groups involved in recent fighting in Mali.

Niger's decision aligns with Mali's move to cut relations with Kyiv.

This diplomatic fallout is linked to remarks made by Ukrainian officials about the situation in Mali, where Tuareg rebels claim to have killed at least 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.

(With inputs from agencies)

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