Putin Promises to Drive Out Forces as Ukraine Makes Deeper Inroads into Russia

In a dramatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a forceful response to Ukraine's unexpected cross-border incursion into Russian territory. The incursion, now in its seventh day, has seen Ukrainian forces advance up to 20 miles into the Kursk region, prompting evacuations and raising concerns about the Kremlin's capacity to repel the offensive.

During a special meeting addressing the crisis, Putin vowed to "squeeze out and knock out the enemy from our territories" and to reinforce Russia's border defenses. His public intervention comes as battles continue to rage inside Russian territory, with the neighboring Belgorod region also facing evacuations.

The Ukrainian incursion has caught the Kremlin off guard, boosting morale in Kyiv while leaving many observers questioning Ukraine's strategic objectives. Putin speculated that the assault aims to improve Ukraine's position in future peace talks, alleviate pressure on its forces along the front lines, and sow discord within Russia.

"It appears the enemy is trying to improve its negotiation positions," Putin stated, referencing Russia's recent calls for peace talks, albeit with the condition that Kyiv cede vast territories annexed by Moscow in 2022. He also claimed that the Ukrainian offensive sought to halt Russian advances in eastern and southern Ukraine, asserting that Russian forces were making accelerated gains along the contact line.

Putin dismissed the notion that the incursion would divide the Russian people, stating that more individuals have enlisted in the army in recent days. He assured that "the enemy will certainly receive a worthy response."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the incursion for the first time on Saturday, breaking Kyiv's previous silence on the operation. The Russian defense ministry acknowledged ongoing intense fighting with Ukrainian troops in Kursk, engaging near the villages of Tolpino, Obshchy Kolodez, and Zhuravli, located 13 to 17 miles from the Ukrainian border.

The Kremlin has rushed reinforcements to the area, claiming that Ukraine has lost over 1,300 troops in the operation, a figure that exceeds the initial estimate provided by Russian military chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov. Putin emphasized that Ukrainian losses were "dramatically increasing."

The ongoing battles have dealt a significant blow to Putin's internal standing, with influential Russian military bloggers suggesting that fighting inside Russia continues and that regions neighboring Kursk could also be at risk.

A national emergency was declared last week, resulting in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from border communities in Kursk amid reports of civilian casualties and destruction. New evacuations were announced Monday in the Belovsky district, where the Russian defense ministry reported an attempted Ukrainian breakthrough.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the neighboring Belgorod region, warned of increased "enemy activity" in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district bordering Ukraine. He described it as "an anxious morning" and announced proactive evacuations, with district officials later confirming that 11,000 people had been evacuated.

Amidst the border crisis, attention briefly shifted to southern Ukraine as both sides accused each other of endangering Europe's largest nuclear plant. A major fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, with Zelenskyy sharing a video showing smoke billowing from one of the towers. He accused Russian forces, who have occupied the site since early in the invasion, of starting the fire. Moscow, in turn, blamed Ukraine for the incident.

Evgeny Balitsky, the Kremlin-installed governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, claimed that Ukraine had shelled the nearby city of Enerhodar, causing a fire at the plant's cooling facility. He later stated that a Ukrainian drone had hit one of the cooling towers, but that the fire had been extinguished.

Both Ukrainian and Russian officials have assured that radiation levels at the plant remain normal. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed witnessing "strong dark smoke" from the plant's northern area following multiple explosions but stated there was no impact on nuclear safety.

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, with concerns mounting over the potential for further escalation and the implications for regional stability.