Russia initiated a “counter-terrorism” operation on Saturday in three regions bordering Ukraine—Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk—as Ukrainian forces continue their fifth-day incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk, resulting in the evacuation of 76,000 people to “safe places.”
Kyiv has yet to directly comment on the attack. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged for the first time on Saturday evening that military movements aimed to “shift the war” into Russian territory.
In his daily address, President Zelensky stated, “Ukraine proves it can exert the necessary pressure on the aggressor.”
Meanwhile, Rosatom, the Russian nuclear agency, warned on Saturday that the ongoing Ukrainian assault poses a “direct threat” to a nuclear power plant located less than 50 kilometers from the combat zone.
Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, urged in a statement on Friday for “maximum restraint to avoid a nuclear incident.”
According to independent analysts, Ukrainian military units successfully crossed into the Kursk region on Tuesday, advancing several kilometers.
In response to what it described as an “unprecedented attempt to destabilize” the area, the Russian authorities announced the start of the counter-terrorism operation in the affected regions late Friday night.
Possible measures include movement restrictions, the ability to requisition vehicles, monitoring of telephone communications, declaring prohibited areas, establishing checkpoints, and enhancing security at strategic infrastructure sites.
Explosions were reported in central and eastern Kyiv on Saturday night, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse, while the Ukrainian Air Force reported two Russian missiles heading towards the capital.
