Ukraine Troops Reach Russian Town Just 7-Hour Drive Away from Moscow

Ukrainian forces are reported to have reached the town of Korenevo in Kursk, 48 hours after launching an armored assault into the western Russian region.

Since Ukraine's cross-border raid was launched into Kursk on Tuesday, Kyiv's forces are reported to have occupied at least 11 settlements, as well as the Sudzha gas measuring facility, which facilitates the flow of Russian gas to Europe.

By Wednesday evening, Russia had lost full control over an area of up to 350 square kilometers (about 135 square miles) to Ukraine's forces—roughly the size of Atlanta—investigative Russian outlet Agentstvo reported. Newsweek could not independently verify this.

Russian Telegram channel Two Majors reported that Ukraine's forces reached the town of Korenevo—roughly a seven to eight hour drive to Russia's capital Moscow—but they were pushed back by Russian troops.

Newsweek couldn't independently verify the claim and has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.

The channel also reported that a "rifle battle" is underway in the village of Anastasyevka, which is located some 18 miles from the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Kurchatov, where explosions were heard on Wednesday.

Some Russian military bloggers, including Russian war correspondent Alexander Sladkov, have speculated that Ukrainian forces are planning to take control of the nuclear plant although there is no evidence to suggest that Ukraine intends to do this.

After more than a day of silence, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Thursday shed some light on the objectives of Kyiv's armored assault. The U.S. had said on Wednesday that it was unclear on Ukraine's goals in the region and that it would contact officials to get some clarification on the matter.

The surprise incursion was launched to boost Kyiv's position in future negotiations with Russia, Podolyak said during a national TV broadcast, according to Telegram channel Country Politics.

The presidential adviser said Russian losses of territory, people and equipment will positively impact potential future negotiations with Moscow.

Ukraine's advances on Russian territory will also "scare" Russians and worsen their attitude toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin on Wednesday called Ukraine's cross-border armored assaults a "large-scale provocation."

"We have to start with the events in the Kursk region," he said at an emergency meeting of his Security Council. "As you know, the Kyiv regime has carried out another large-scale provocation, firing indiscriminately with various types of weapons, including missiles, at civilian buildings, residential buildings, and ambulances."

Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via worldnews@newsweek.com.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.