Ukraine Incursion into Russia: Live News Updates as Troops Advance in KurskUkraine Incursion into Russia: Live News Updates as Troops Advance in Kursk

Ukraine launched a surprise counteroffensive inside Russia, putting Vladimir Putin's troops on the back foot on their home soil.

Clashes erupted on Tuesday in the region bordering Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region. While anti-Kremlin militia groups have previously carried out surprise raids into the border region of Belgorod, this incursion increasingly appears to be on a different scale, reportedly involving multiple Ukrainian units and armored convoys.

While Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that the attack was being neutralised, intense fighting continues in multiple locations. Meanwhile, Russian war analysts and the "z-blogger" community have grown increasingly frustrated with and furious at Putin military's response to the attack.

• Ukraine troops reportedly control up to 130 square miles of Russian territory as of Thursday morning.
• On Wednesday president Vladimir Putin convened an emergency security council meeting to address the threat.
• Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president, vowed to respond "mercilessly" and to penetrate further into Ukrainian territory following.
• Kyiv has said little about the strategy behind the surprise offensive, but hinted at its core objective on Thursday morning.
• Russian state media reacted with shock and outrage to the Ukrainian assault, with one pundit calling for a "nuclear strike" on Kursk to thwart Ukraine's advances.

07:46 AM EDT

Photos and videos published on pro-Ukraine channels appear to show Russian troops surrendering en masse in Kursk, with reportedly as many as 60 taken prisoner by Kyiv's forces.

Sudzha Border Crossing post, Russia, 6-7 August.
The Film/pics Russians don't want to see.
Possibly the largest mass RuAF surrender of the war so far. Over 60 Russians: 22 reportedly marching at 51.173729, 35.140698 to join approx 40 sitting in a line.@GeoConfirmed @UAControlMap… pic.twitter.com/iCdU4rKnxN

— Dan (@Danspiun) August 7, 2024

The incidents took place on August 6-7 near the border with Ukraine, according to reports in Russian and Ukrainian media.

Newsweek could not immediately verify the accuracy of the claims.

07:23 AM EDT

Good morning and welcome to Newsweek's liveblog

Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia has continued into its third day, with Moscow declaring emergency in the Kursk region as clashes continued as far as 20 miles from the border.

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