Russian President Vladimir Putin urgently convened the Russian Security Council on Wednesday, August 7, following a significant breach by Ukrainian troops into the Kursk region of Russia.
The council includes key figures
According to Ziare this decision, reported by Russian Telegram channel Brief, stems from Ukrainian forces successfully consolidating positions and occupying several localities within Kursk, as confirmed by Russian military bloggers and The Moscow Times.
Ahead of the Security Council meeting, Putin scheduled a discussion with government officials. The council includes key figures such as heads of security institutions, leaders of both houses of the Russian parliament, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, a former Defense Minister.
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged ongoing battles to repel Ukrainian forces, which began their incursion the previous day. In a statement, the ministry reported that Russian troops and border police units continued their operations against the Ukrainian army overnight in areas near the Russian-Ukrainian border within Kursk.
400 Ukrainian combatants had fortified positions
Prominent Russian military blogger Rybar reported that approximately 400 Ukrainian combatants had fortified positions in three localities in Kursk, with an additional 2,000 troops stationed at the border.
Some Russian Telegram channels claimed Ukrainian forces advanced 10 kilometers into Russian territory. Kursk Governor Aleksei Smirnov discussed the situation with Putin, who assured him of all necessary support to stabilize the region. Thousands of residents near the border were evacuated as a precaution.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed reinforcements were sent to the region following the Ukrainian incursion, which involved around 300 enemy soldiers supported by tanks and armored vehicles.
Notably, the Ukrainian military has remained silent on the operation, fueling speculation about its objectives and timing amidst a challenging front-line situation.
While some military analysts criticized the operation as a waste of resources, others suggested it might aim to divert Russian forces from critical sectors in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence head Kirilo Budanov indicated that the Russian offensive might wane in the coming months due to accumulated fatigue, reflecting on Ukraine’s prolonged conflict experience since 2014.
