Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
Vladimir Putin yesterday accused Ukraine of a “major provocation” in Russia’s Kursk region, where fighting broke out two days ago when Ukrainian military units launched a surprise attack across the border. Ukrainian media reported that a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter was shot down by a kamikaze drone; online footage verified by the BBC showed fighter jets flying low overhead and smoke rising from the ground. Ukrainian forces have reportedly taken the town of Suzha, the site of a large gas compressor station that pumps 42 million cubic metres of Russian gas a day to the EU. Russia claimed it had killed 315 enemy soldiers and destroyed 54 armoured vehicles, including seven tanks. Local authorities said three civilians had been killed with 24 wounded, including six children. Thousands of people have reportedly been evacuated from the area. A former spokesman for the Ukrainian army said the attack could be intended to prevent Russian troops gathering in the area ahead of advancing into Ukraine – and had already drawn Russian forces away from the Donetsk region. Ukraine isn’t commenting on the attack.
There is a nuclear power plant near Kursk, approximately 58km away from the Ukrainian border. Colonel Vladyslav Seleznyov, the former army spokesman, said it was “too early” to discuss Ukrainian troops potentially seizing the plant.
Russia has already intensified air attacks on the neighbouring Sumy region, dropping at least 30 gliding bombs onto Ukrainian villages and towns near the border on Wednesday. At least 23 towns have issued evacuation orders.
This is not the first time Russian towns have been targeted. Last spring and summer, anti-Kremlin volunteers’ military units – the Russian Volunteer Corps and “Freedom of Russia” battalion – attacked several settlements in the Belgorod region.
