MOSCOW — Russian authorities on Thursday claimed to have repelled an attempted infiltration by Ukrainian forces in the Bryansk region, marking a potential expansion of cross-border operations beyond the ongoing incursion in Kursk. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck near an air base in southern Russia, further escalating tensions along the border.
Alexander Bogomaz, governor of Bryansk region, stated that Russian border guards and military units thwarted an attack by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team on Wednesday. The alleged incident occurred approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the site of Ukraine’s ongoing operation in the Kursk region, suggesting a possible widening of Kyiv’s cross-border strategy.
The reported raid comes as Ukrainian forces continue their surprise assault into Russia’s Kursk region, which began on August 6. In response to the incursion, authorities in Kursk announced they have started installing concrete shelters to protect civilians.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation, justified the Kursk operation as a protective measure. “Our goals there are to clear the border from Russian military threats and make enemy shelling and attacks on our towns and villages impossible,” Umerov said in a statement.
The conflict has intensified on multiple fronts. In Russia’s southern Volgograd region, a Ukrainian drone reportedly crashed into a military facility, causing a fire. Governor Andrei Bocharov reported no casualties but did not specify the nature of the targeted facility. The incident led to temporary restrictions at Volgograd airport.
On the eastern front, Ukraine’s military reported intense fighting, with Russian forces launching numerous assaults and offensive actions near the transport hub of Pokrovsk. In the south, the Ukrainian navy claimed an attack on a Russian ammunition and fuel storage site on the Moscow-held Kinburn Spit in occupied southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture of another village in the Kursk region during a visit to the Sumy border area. Ukrainian officials previously claimed control of over 90 settlements in the region.
Russia maintains that it has halted the Ukrainian offensive and begun pushing back in some areas, including Kursk. However, a senior Russian commander cautioned that Ukrainian forces might be regrouping for another potential attack.
As Ukraine prepares to mark its 33rd anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union on Saturday, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv warned of a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks throughout the country in the coming days.
