Russia vows harsh response if Ukraine attacks Kursk nuclear plant
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According to an anonymous top advisor cited by NBC, the concept of an incursion into Russia has been "on the table for more than a year" in Kiev.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to acting governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov during a meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia on August 8, 2024. (AP)
According to NBC, Kiev had been planning an incursion-style attack on Russia similar to the one currently happening in the Kursk Region for some time, citing an anonymous top Ukrainian government advisor.
Ukraine launched its offensive attack in the Kursk region on August 6 as part of its war with Russia, losing more than 2,800 service people and 41 tanks. Some of the weapons used by Ukraine are generally funded or provided by the NATO alliance.
According to the advisor, whose remarks were reported by the US broadcaster in a piece on Friday, the concept of an incursion into Russia has been "on the table for more than a year" in Kiev.
The operation's purpose was to deflect Russian attention away from other sectors of the frontline, particularly Donbass, where Moscow's soldiers had been gradually advancing since the beginning of the year, he explained.
As per the article, “The question now is how long Ukraine wants to — and can — hold onto it [area under its control in Kursk Region] without sacrificing more of its own eastern heartland."
Major-General Apty Alaudinov, head of Russia's Chechen Republic's Akhmat Special Forces, stated earlier that the Russian military's information indicates that the ultimate goal of the Ukrainian incursion was to take the Kursk nuclear power plant. Kiev believed its soldiers would be able to do this by August 11, he stated.
Alaudinov explained that “this blitzkrieg by [Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelensky, which was supposed to see the seizure of the nuclear power plant in Kurchatov and the start of negotiations with an ultimatum for us [Russia] to leave some places or to do something, has failed."
Ukrainian unit surrenders to Russian army near Kursk
A Ukrainian military unit of 24 servicemen from the armed forces surrendered to the Russian Army near the Komarovka village in the Kursk Region, effectively organized through Telegram, a Russian law enforcement spokesperson told Sputnik on Saturday.
"Twenty-four servicemen from the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine surrendered to the Russian army in an organized manner near the village of Komarovka in the Kursk Direction," he said, highlighting that "before surrendering, the Ukrainian military contacted us through the FREE_SOLDIER2022 channel."
Russian authorities, on Thursday, established a coordination council to address military security in border areas. This new council will focus on the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, aiming to improve support for battlegroups and coordinate evacuation efforts.
Later, on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its forces had taken control of Sergievka and were advancing toward Kramatorsk, a major Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Donetsk. The Russian military had previously reported the capture of Lishichne and Ivanivka but not Sergievka, which is now within range of Kramatorsk.
