State of emergency declared in Russia's Kursk region after major Ukrainian incursion

A state of emergency has been declared in Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, following one of the most significant Ukrainian attacks on Russia during the two-year conflict.

According to Russian officials, around 1,000 Ukrainian troops breached the Russian border early on August 6, using tanks and armored vehicles, supported by swarms of drones and heavy artillery. By the evening of August 7, they had penetrated deep into Russian defenses.

On Thursday, Russia's defense ministry reported that the Russian army, along with the Federal Security Service (FSB), had stopped the Ukrainian advance and were engaged in battles with Ukrainian units in the Kursk region. 

"Units of the Northern group of forces, together with the FSB, continue to destroy Ukrainian armed formations in the Sudzhensky and Korenevsky districts of the Kursk region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border," the ministry stated.

President Vladimir Putin described the Ukrainian attack as a "major provocation."

While the Ukrainian military has not commented on the offensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian army on Thursday for its ability "to surprise" and achieve results, though he did not specifically mention Kursk.

Key Russian gas transfer point

Several Russian media outlets estimate that the combat zone in the Kursk region now covers an area between 350 and 430 square kilometers. Ukrainian forces reportedly took control of the Sudzha gas transfer and measuring station, according to the Rybar Telegram channel, which is closely associated with Russia's Ministry of Defense.

The Sudzha gas station is the only entry point for Russian natural gas into Ukraine's gas transmission system for onward transport to Europe. Despite reports of hostilities in the area, Ukraine's energy minister confirmed that gas transit via Sudzha was still functioning. While most EU nations have reduced their reliance on Russian gas, Austria continues to receive most of its gas through Ukraine.

The Moldovan government introduced a special regime in the energy sector on Thursday, citing concerns about potential disruptions to gas supplies through Ukraine.

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Moscow Railways reported the temporary closure of stations at Sudzha, Korenevo, and Psel to passengers. However, trains in other parts of the region, except for Sudzhansky and Korenevsky, are operating normally.

Amid the Ukrainian offensive, the Kursk region's administration faced a massive DDoS attack, according to the regional government's press service. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development reported that the attack was successfully repelled.

The Russian Ministry of Health reported that five people have been killed and 66 injured, including 9 children, in shelling in the Kursk region. Among the wounded is VGTRK correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny. Nine victims, including Poddubny, have been transferred to Moscow for treatment.

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