Ukraine war. Russia announces “anti-terrorist operation” in three border regions

Russia announces “anti-terrorist operations” in three border regions with Ukraine The largest invasion Ukrainian troops have been stationed on its territory since the beginning of the conflict.

Russia’s State Anti-Terrorism Committee announced late Friday that “anti-terrorist operations (…) were launched in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions to ensure the safety of citizens and eliminate the threat of terrorist acts committed by terrorist groups against the enemy.”

Russian law allows security forces and the military considerable emergency powers in “anti-terrorist” operations: restricting movement, seizing vehicles, tapping phone calls, declaring off-limits areas, setting up checkpoints and stepping up security at strategic infrastructure sites.

‘Unprecedented attempt at destabilization’

According to independent analysts, Ukrainian troops crossed the Russian border into the Kursk region on Tuesday and then advanced several kilometers.
Russia has scrambled to deploy more troops and equipment, including tanks, rocket launchers and aviation, to try to stop the Ukrainian offensive.

The CTC said Kiev had launched an “unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation in several regions of Russia” and called the incursion a “terrorist attack,” saying Ukrainian forces had injured civilians and destroyed residential buildings.

Ukrainian leaders have remained tight-lipped about the operation, and the United States, Kiev’s closest ally, said it had no advance notice of the plan.

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky However, Russia appeared to boast about its military’s initial successes, announcing earlier this week that it must “feel the consequences” of its large-scale offensive against Ukraine since February 2022.

The Russian Defense Ministry released videos on Saturday showing tanks firing on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region and carrying out nighttime airstrikes. He assured on Friday that he had deployed more troops to the border region. The ministry also claimed to have shot down 26 Ukrainian drones that tried to attack the region at night.