Russia Accuses Ukraine of Provocation Amid Escalating Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his outrage after what he described as the largest Ukrainian attack since the onset of the conflict. On Wednesday, during a televised meeting with the Government, Putin accused Ukraine of executing a large-scale provocation by conducting a border incursion in the Kursk region. According to him, the Ukrainian forces are carrying out indiscriminate bombings targeting civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and ambulances.
Putin announced that right after his meeting with the Government officials, he will convene a session with leaders from the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff, and the Federal Security Service (FSB), which oversees border protection. In light of the recent events, he urged the Government to respond promptly to assist the citizens of Kursk affected by the military incursion.
Discussions between Putin and Kursk Governor Alexei Mironov revealed that several thousand civilians have been evacuated since the onset of the hostilities. Mironov stated that the situation in Kursk is manageable despite the ongoing threats.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that operations to expel Ukrainian troops from the Kursk territory are ongoing for the second day. In a military statement, it was noted that detachments of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, along with units from the FSB border guard, are engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces that have infiltrated the area.
The United Nations has expressed concern that these incidents could exacerbate the existing crisis. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq emphasized that actions such as the recent Ukrainian offensive against Kursk could lead to greater conflict, advocating for de-escalation from both parties involved.
"All these incidents increase the risk of an alarming escalation of the crisis, and we want the situation to be redirected as much as possible," Haq stated during a press conference. He reiterated the UN's position that it views Russia as primarily responsible for the ongoing war, advocating for a resolution based on the United Nations Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Simultaneously, the US State Department, represented by spokesperson Matthew Miller, indicated that Ukraine had not informed the United States about their military actions in advance, although he noted that this has been a pattern as Ukraine often does not share details about its military movements.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely, hoping for a de-escalation of hostilities in the region.
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