Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine’s recent strike in Russia’s Kursk region was an attempt to strengthen Kyiv’s position ahead of possible peace talks and to slow down Russian forces. Ukrainian forces managed to cross the Russian border last Tuesday, taking control of parts of the Kursk region. Putin accused Ukraine, with Western support, of targeting civilians and nuclear facilities. He questioned the possibility of negotiations under such circumstances.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the war is now reaching Russia, justifying Ukraine’s cross-border assault as necessary for its security. He mentioned that Ukraine had taken control of areas used by Russia to launch attacks.

In the Kursk region, the acting governor reported that Ukraine had control over 28 settlements, with the incursion reaching 12 km deep and 40 km wide. Putin advised the governor to focus on updating the socio-economic situation instead.

So far, 121,000 people have been evacuated from the Kursk region, with another 59,000 in the process of leaving. In the neighboring Belgorod region, more civilians are also being evacuated.