In a significant move, Russia has declared a “counter-terrorism operation” across three regions bordering Ukraine—Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk—to counter a surprising incursion by Ukrainian forces.
This declaration grants local authorities the power to restrict movement for people and vehicles, implement surveillance, and conduct phone tapping, among other measures, in an attempt to enhance security.
The Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk region has now entered its fifth consecutive day, with Kyiv remaining tight-lipped regarding the operation.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian troops are threatening to capture a town in the region, marking a significant advancement approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) into Russian territory since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NAC) announced the new security measures on Friday, aiming to “ensure the safety of citizens and address the threat posed by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance units.”
Officials are now authorized to enter private residences, restrict pedestrian and vehicular traffic, temporarily relocate individuals, and monitor electronic communications.
This development arrives as Russian forces grapple with the ongoing Ukrainian assault.
According to state sources, over 76,000 residents have been evacuated from border areas within the Kursk region due to heightened security concerns.
Russia claims that up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers arrived in the Kursk region on Tuesday, armed with tanks and armored vehicles.
Subsequently, several villages have reportedly been captured by Ukrainian forces, with the regional town of Sudzha now under threat.
Recently surfaced footage allegedly shows armed Ukrainian soldiers asserting control over the town and a significant Russian gas facility in the area.
Verification efforts have confirmed the video’s location, indicating it was filmed near the Gazprom facility on the outskirts of Sudzha, approximately 7 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. However, the footage does not conclusively confirm that Ukrainian forces control the entire town.
Previously, verification of another online video indicated damage to a Russian convoy consisting of 15 vehicles, found burnt and abandoned near Oktyabrskoe, around 38 kilometers from the border on the Russian side.
The footage depicted injured Russian soldiers, some potentially deceased, at the scene.
In response to the situation, Moscow has sent additional military reinforcements, including tanks and rocket-launching systems, to the Kursk region.
As of Saturday morning, the Russian defense ministry stated that its troops are “continuing to repel the attempted invasion” by Ukrainian forces.
They assert that Ukraine’s efforts to penetrate deep into Russian territory have been thwarted, although these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
On Friday, international authorities urged both nations to exercise restraint as the conflict nears the Kursk nuclear power plant, one of Russia’s largest of its kind.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director emphasized the need for precautions to prevent any nuclear incident that could have severe radiological effects, with the power plant located about 60 kilometers northeast of Sudzha.
