Putin convened a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, including Patrushev, to discuss “new technical solutions” for what Russia refers to as its “special military operation”
Metro Morning Report
MOSCOW: On Friday, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, alleged that the West, particularly the US-led NATO alliance, was involved in planning Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. This claim, which has been firmly denied by Washington, comes in the wake of what is being described as the largest foreign incursion into Russian territory since World War II.
The Ukrainian offensive, which began on August 6, saw thousands of Ukrainian troops crossing Russia’s western border and advancing several kilometers into Kursk. This surprise attack has been a major embarrassment for Putin’s military and has heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has justified the operation as a necessary step to compel Russia, which began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, to engage in “fair” peace talks.
Western nations, eager to avoid direct military confrontation with Russia, have denied any prior knowledge or involvement in the attack. Despite this, it has been reported that US and British weaponry was used during the operation. Patrushev, a veteran Kremlin official and influential figure, dismissed these Western denials during an interview with Izvestia, suggesting that the operation could not have been carried out without NATO and Western intelligence support. However, Patrushev provided no evidence to substantiate his claims.
In response to the incursion, Putin convened a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, including Patrushev, to discuss “new technical solutions” for what Russia refers to as its “special military operation.” Patrushev also warned that Washington’s actions could lead to Ukraine losing its sovereignty and territory. The Ukrainian government has since announced the establishment of a military commandant in the areas it controls, even as Russia has intensified its offensives in eastern Ukraine.
Russian defense ministry reports indicate that several Ukrainian attacks along the Kursk frontline have been repelled. Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov reported that Ukraine had destroyed a road bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovsky district, complicating the evacuation of around 20,000 residents from the frontier area. Despite the incursion exposing vulnerabilities in Russian defenses and altering the public narrative of the conflict, Russian officials have insisted that the “terrorist invasion” would not alter the course of the war. Russia continues to hold a significant numerical advantage and controls approximately 18 percent of Ukrainian territory.
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