1723793424Ukraine claim to capture 102 Russian soldiers in Kursk attack A source in the Security Service of Ukraine has told reporters that special forces have captured a group of more than 100 Russian soldiers.
The 102 servicemen of Russia’s 488th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment and its “Akhmat” unit are the largest group of soldiers to be captured in one go since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
“They captured and cleared a sprawling, concrete and well-fortified company stronghold from all sides – with underground communications and personnel accommodation, a canteen, an armoury and even a bathhouse,” the source said.
Tom Watling16 August 2024 08:30
1723792524Mapped: Ukraine’s incursion into the Russian Kursk region explainedTom Watling16 August 2024 08:15
1723791324Ukraine downs all Russia-launched drones during overnight attack, air force saysUkraine shot down all five Russia-launched drones during an overnight attack, the country’s air force has said.
Russian forces also used three ballistic Iskander-M missiles during the attack, according to the air force’s statement on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia used three Shahed-type drones and two drones of an identified type for the attack, it said.
Reuters previously reported that Russia turned to using cheaply-made drones in some of its attacks on Ukraine to try to identify air defences and act as decoys.
The governors of Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions reported no damage or casualties following the attack.
Tom Watling16 August 2024 07:55
1723790786Here are some of the latest photos from Ukraine Below we have some of the latest photos from Ukraine in its northeast region of Sumy, which is being used as a staging post for the incursion into Russia.
Ukrainian armored infantry vehicle ‘Roshel’ travels past an unfinished church on the road from Sumy to the border with Russia (Getty Images)
A soldier buys some cans of Red Bull in a store near the border with Russia (Getty Images)
Local resident of a border village with Russia stands near his building which was hit by an artillery shell in the mornings of 14 and 15 August (Getty Images)Tom Watling16 August 2024 07:46
1723789442Revealed: Ukraine’s plan to force Putin to retreat in shameAs Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk enters its 11th day, below we point you towards an interview The Independent did earlier this week with president Volodymyr Zelensky’s top advisor on the ultimate objectives of the assault.
Mykhailo Podolyak described the incursion as a “military tool of coercion to force Russia into the negotiation process”.
Tom Watling16 August 2024 07:24
1723786200Why can’t Ukraine use Britain’s power Storm Shadow missiles in incursionIt has emerged that British Challenger 2 tanks are being used in Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia.
The Ukraine’s have permission from the Ministry of Defence to use UK weapons on Russian soil as part of Kyiv’s self-defence.
The only exception is Britain’s powerful Storm Shadow missiles, which remain off limits beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace said it would be difficult for Britain to authorise without sign-off from other allies.
“The use of Storm Shadows is not entirely independent from other nations’ capabilities,” he said. “With missiles, all missiles, you have to use data, GPS, intelligence, targeting etc. That means that sometimes the use of missiles like Storm Shadows is more collaborative than Ukraine being able to unilaterally use them.”
He added: “You might want to say to Ukraine, ‘Yeah, you can use them,’ but if country B says they cannot use their equipment, then you can’t use them,” he added.
A storm shadow missile has a potential range of hundreds of miles (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)Alex Ross16 August 2024 06:30
1723785794Kyiv takes full control of Russian town of Sudzha, says ZelenskyUkrainian troops have taken full control of Sudzha, the largest Russian town to fall to Ukraine‘s forces since the start of their cross-border incursion more than a week ago, Volodymyr Zelensky announced yesterday.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was setting up a military command office in Sudzha, which suggests that Ukraine might plan to remain in the Kursk region long-term – or just signal Moscow that it may intend to do so. He didn’t elaborate on what functions the office might handle, though he said earlier this week that Ukraine would be distributing humanitarian aid to Sudzha residents.
Although it had a prewar population of only around 5,000 people, Sudzha is the administrative centre for the border area of Russia’s Kursk region and is larger than any of the other towns or settlements that Ukraine says it has taken since the incursion began on 6 August.
Russia didn’t immediately respond to Kyiv’s claims, but its defence ministry said earlier yesterday that Russian forces had blocked Ukrainian attempts to take several other communities. The surprise Ukrainian incursion has reframed the war and caused chaos in the Kursk region, leading to the evacuation of more than 120,000 civilians, according to Russian authorities, and the capture of at least 100 Russian troops, according to Kyiv. Mr Zelensky has said one of the reasons for the incursion was to protect neighbouring Ukrainian regions.
“The more Russian military presence is destroyed in the border regions, the closer peace and real security will be for our state. The Russian state must be responsible for what it has done,” he said earlier this week.Russia has seen previous raids of its territory in the war, but the Kursk incursion is notable for its size, speed, the reported involvement of battle-hardened Ukrainian brigades, and the length of time they have stayed inside Russia.
As many as 10,000 Ukrainian troops are involved, according to Western military analysts. The incursion also marks the first time foreign troops have invaded and held Russian territory since Nazi Germany did in the Second World War.
Arpan Rai16 August 2024 06:23
1723784874Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin vow deeper tiesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed a pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia in a message to president Vladimir Putin as Pyongyang marked an anniversary of independence from Japan’s colonial rule, KCNA state news agency reported today.
It was in reply to a message of congratulations from Mr Putin on the 15 August liberation day anniversary where the Russian leader said the bond forged as Soviet soldiers fought against Japan continues to serve as the basis of their ties, KCNA said.
“The friendly feelings of the armies and peoples of the two countries forged and deepened in the bloody struggle against the common enemy serve as a strong driving force for developing… relations of friendship and cooperation into comprehensive strategic partnership and invincible comradeship,” the North Korean leader said.
The remarks came amid accusations by South Korea, Ukraine and the US that Mr Kim is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine by supplying rockets and missiles in return for economic and other military assistance from Moscow.
Arpan Rai16 August 2024 06:07
1723784493Russian MP claims Ukrainian incursion could lead to global warA Russian parliamentary deputy has claimed the “Western-backed” Ukrainian incursion has brought the world close to an all-out global war, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.
Ukrainian troops crossed the border into Russia’s Kursk region on 6 August and have since advanced significantly, forcing Moscow to evacuate over 200,000 people from their homes.
“Considering the presence of Western military equipment, the use of Western ammunition and missiles in attacks on civilian infrastructure and irrefutable proof of foreigners’ participation in the attack on Russian territory, one could come to the conclusion that the world is on the brink of a third world war,” RIA quoted deputy Mikhail Sheremet as saying.
Sheremet, who is a member of the Russian parliament’s defence committee, echoed Putin by saying that Nato countries had given a green light to the incursion plans, a charge Washington has denied.
This comes amid remarks from Putin’s aide, Nikolai Patrushev today who accused the West of being behind the attack, in an interview with Izvestia newspaper.
He claimed that the Nato and Western intelligence agencies were involved in planning the Kursk operation, although he provided no evidence.
Ukraine and its allies say Russia is receiving assistance in its war effort from China, Iran and North Korea.
Arpan Rai16 August 2024 06:01
1723783212Revealed: Ukraine’s plan to force Putin to retreat in shameMykhailo Podolyak, the top aide to the Ukrainian president, said the incursion had shown Russians the harsh realities of Vladimir Putin’s war.
“We need to use absolutely clear tools to coerce Russia [into negotiation]. One of them is a military instrument of coercion.
Arpan Rai16 August 2024 05:40
