Ukraine on High Alert as Russian Forces Gather Near Kursk Border
In a tense escalation, Ukraine was placed on high alert Monday as tens of thousands of Russian troops reportedly prepared to advance near the border region of Kursk. Ukraine’s top military official, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, conveyed this alarming development on Telegram, stating that Russian forces were ordered to push deeper into Ukrainian-held territories.
This buildup near Kursk follows Ukraine’s recent incursion into the region in August, during which Ukrainian forces took control of several towns and villages close to the border. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle for strategic territory as both sides maneuver for advantage.
Meanwhile, southern Ukraine endured a series of air attacks, resulting in tragic losses. Reports indicate that five people were killed in Mykolaiv and another person in Zaporizhzhia, where a residential building was completely destroyed. The airstrike left at least a dozen injured, including five children aged 4 to 17, underscoring the tragic civilian toll of the conflict.
The Ukrainian Air Force issued a nationwide high alert for potential missile strikes, citing the deployment of a significant number of Russian bombers, specifically Tu-95MS strategic bombers, launching from Russian airspace toward Ukraine. Although the missiles had not reached Ukraine by early morning, military analysts noted that the Russian aircraft might have performed simulated launch maneuvers to gauge Ukraine’s defensive readiness.
Adding an international dimension, reports from The Washington Post and Reuters suggest that former U.S. President-elect Donald Trump recently urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid further escalation. According to unnamed sources, Trump emphasized America’s military presence in Europe, showing an interest in finding a swift resolution to the war. However, the Kremlin quickly dismissed reports of the alleged phone conversation as false, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it “pure fiction.”
The rapidly changing dynamics in the conflict highlight Ukraine’s resilience amid increasing threats and underline the complexities of international diplomacy in the ongoing crisis.
Information from Reuters and Agence France-Presse was included in this report.
