Five Days of Clashes in the Southwestern Border Region of Russia
Interfax news agency reported on the 10th (local time) that Russia has declared an anti-terrorism operation regime in the southwestern border area where clashes with Ukraine have been ongoing for five days.
The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) stated in a press release that the anti-terrorism operation regime was introduced from the previous day in border areas including Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk provinces. The NAC announced that "the Ukrainian regime made an unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation within the territory," and that Alexander Bortnikov, chairman of the NAC and director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), decided on this matter to prevent terrorism by the Ukrainian military.
Alexey Smirnov, acting governor of Kursk province, also stated on Telegram that "due to the increased risk of Ukrainian sabotage and terrorism, an anti-terrorism operation regime has been implemented in Kursk." The NAC added that civilian casualties occurred and civilian buildings and facilities were destroyed due to terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian military in Kursk.
Accordingly, individuals and vehicles passing through Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk will be subject to measures such as checkpoints, movement restrictions, and communication limitations.
Since the 6th, Russia has been conducting operations to repel Ukrainian forces that infiltrated the Kursk region across the border. In particular, the city of Sudzha in Kursk has gas pipeline facilities related to the supply of Russian natural gas to Europe through Ukraine, and Kurchatov has a large nuclear power plant, making it a strategic point that Russia cannot afford to lose. The day before, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations declared a federal-level state of emergency in Kursk.
TASS news agency reported that fragments and debris presumed to be from missiles intercepted on the 8th were found at the Kursk nuclear power plant, and Russia has reported the related situation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, it added that there was no direct shelling of Kurchatov or the nuclear power plant facilities. Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, reportedly urged Ukraine and Russia to "exercise restraint in the Kursk fighting."
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Mi-28NM attack helicopters and Sukhoi (Su)-34 fighter-bombers attacked Ukrainian forces and weapons in Kursk, and that their air defense systems shot down a total of 32 Ukrainian drones over Kursk and Yaroslavl. It is understood that the Ukrainian military used U.S.-made Stryker armored vehicles and German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicles in this attack.
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