Russia has declared a “federal-level” emergency in the Kursk region following a significant and aggressive incursion by Ukrainian forces. On Friday, Russian authorities reinforced their positions in the region, deploying additional troops and military hardware after Ukrainian forces staged what is considered the largest cross-border attack on Russian soil since the onset of the conflict. The Ukrainian troops reportedly crossed into Russian territory four days earlier, marking a new phase in the ongoing war.
The situation in Kursk remains tense and complex as Russian reinforcements, including multiple rocket launchers, towed artillery guns, and heavy tracked vehicles, were dispatched to counter the Ukrainian offensive.
Russian state media, citing the Defense Ministry, reported that the general situation in the region remains “difficult,” with ongoing engagements near the border town, which is crucial due to its proximity to Russian natural gas reserves.
Amidst this escalating conflict, tragedy struck in eastern Ukraine as a Russian missile slammed into a crowded shopping mall in the town of Kostiantynivka, located in the Donetsk region.
The missile hit in the middle of the day, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 people and wounding 44 others, according to Ukrainian authorities. The mall, situated in a residential area, was engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing from the site of the strike.
Vadym Filashkin, the regional head of Donetsk, condemned the attack, labeling it another “act of terror by the Russians” and highlighting the targeted nature of the strike on a civilian area.
The attack on Kostiantynivka is the second major strike on the town in just over a year; in September last year, a similar missile strike on an outdoor market claimed 17 lives.
In a broader context, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine revealed that July witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine since October 2022.
The report indicated that conflict-related violence claimed at least 219 civilian lives and injured over 1,000 people during July alone, underscoring the intensifying nature of the conflict.
As the situation in Kursk and Donetsk remains volatile, the international community continues to monitor the developments with concern, especially as the conflict shows no signs of abating.
The heavy fighting in the western outskirts of the Kursk region, coupled with the ongoing Ukrainian advances, has raised fears of further escalation, particularly as the region is a vital hub for Russian natural gas.
APnews.com
