Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometers inside Russia's Kursk region, marking the deepest and most significant incursion since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia's defense ministry reported intense battles near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, while Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the attack, citing over 2,000 cross-border strikes by Russia this summer.

Ukrainian troops have reportedly captured several settlements, with footage showing the removal of Russian flags and fighting near key infrastructure.

Russia has declared a state of emergency in the region, evacuating 76,000 people, while new defensive lines have been constructed near the Kursk nuclear power plant. The operation aims to stretch Russian forces and destabilize the situation within Russia itself.
(colombotimes.lk)