Russia Officially Confirms That Ukrainian Forces Have Reached Sudzha, Kursk Region

On August 9, the Russian Defense Ministry officially claimed that Russian forces were engaging Ukrainian soldiers on the Western outskirts of Sudzha, as Ukraine’s reported incursion into Russian territory is entering its fourth day.

Sudzha is situated less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, with the city of Kursk lying 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the Northeast. This marks the first time Moscow has acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have reached the town.

The Ministry also reported that Russian forces are “launching attacks on Ukrainian Armed Forces' personnel and equipment” near the settlements of Daryino, Gogolevka, Melovoy, and Nikolskyi.

According to Igor Korpunkov, the mayor of Kurchatov, battles are ongoing “a few dozen kilometers” from the town, which is located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Ukraine’s Sumy Region and hosts the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Russian Telegram channels further claim that Ukrainian forces are approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the town of Lgov, where a critical highway is located.

The situation in Russia’s Kursk Region has been elevated to a “federal emergency,” according to the Emergency Situations Ministry.

Previously, on August 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on August 8 that “Russia brought war to our land and should feel the consequences of its actions. We, however, aim to achieve our goals as soon as possible in peacetime — under conditions of just peace. And it will be so.”