KURSK, Russia — A video circulating online appears to show the aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on Russian military convoys in the southwestern Kursk region, marking the latest escalation in Ukraine’s cross-border operations.
The video, geolocated by CNN, depicts a chilling scene of burnt-out military trucks with bodies inside, suggesting a significant blow to Moscow’s forces as Kyiv pushes its offensive deeper into Russian territory.
The video, shared by Russian military bloggers and independent outlets on Friday, August 9, 2024, shows about a dozen trucks stationed on the roadside in the village of Oktyabrskoye, roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the town of Rylsk.
Some trucks are completely charred, while others, though intact, appear to contain the bodies of military personnel.
A Russian military blogger attributed the devastation to a Ukrainian strike that took place on Thursday night.
This footage surfaces just days after Ukrainian forces initiated a surprise incursion into Russian territory, a bold shift in tactics that prompted the Kremlin to declare a “federal scale” state of emergency on Friday—a rare move in a region that has largely been untouched by over two years of conflict.
The Ukrainian assault in Kursk coincides with a deadly Russian strike on a supermarket in Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which left at least 14 people dead and 43 injured, according to local officials.
The timing of the strike suggests a potential retaliatory response from Moscow, which has been known to target civilian areas following battlefield setbacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to the tragedy, vowed that Russia would be held accountable.
“Russia will be held accountable for this terror, and we will do our best to ensure that the world continues to stand with Ukraine in supporting our defense and saving the lives of our people,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Shifting Tactics in a Prolonged War
Ukraine’s recent incursions mark a significant departure from its previous strategy, which largely focused on defending its own territory.
While pro-Ukrainian groups of Russian nationals have occasionally launched cross-border raids and airstrikes have targeted the Belgorod region, this week’s operation is the first confirmed entry by regular Ukrainian and special operations units into Russian soil.
US and Ukrainian officials suggest that the goal of this new offensive is twofold: to divert Russian forces from other critical areas along the eastern front and to undermine and demoralize Russian troops.
Despite the aggression, US officials do not believe Ukraine intends to hold Russian territory for an extended period.
On Thursday, residents of Kursk took to Telegram to report “huge, furious battles,” even appealing directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance.
In response, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry dispatched an additional 80 rescuers, including bomb disposal experts, to aid in evacuating the local population to safety.
Though Kyiv has generally refrained from claiming responsibility for attacks within Russian borders, President Zelensky did acknowledge the incursion for the first time on Thursday, albeit without direct reference to the specific assault in Kursk.
“Russia brought the war to our land, and it should feel what it has done,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
Expanding the Battlefield
The Ukrainian offensive has not been confined to ground incursions. Kyiv has also intensified its drone strikes deep into Russian territory, with one such attack on Lipetsk, a region even further from the Ukrainian border than Kursk.
A Ukrainian source revealed that Friday’s strike on Lipetsk targeted a military airfield, destroying an ammunition depot containing over 700 guided bombs, causing a massive fire.
Russia’s defense ministry later reported that it intercepted and destroyed 75 drones overnight, including 19 over Lipetsk.
Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamonov acknowledged the drone strikes but downplayed their impact, asserting that Russia “will not be frightened” but would not risk civilian lives either.
A Changing Global Response
The Ukrainian assaults have garnered a relatively muted response from the international community, a shift from the apprehension often expressed during previous cross-border operations.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, praised this change, noting that “most quietly approve” of Ukraine’s actions.
Unlike Zelensky, Podolyak directly referenced the events in Kursk, emphasising that the global community increasingly views Russia as a “legitimate target for any operations and types of weapons.”
European Union foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stanno echoed this sentiment, stating that Ukraine “has the legal right to defend itself, including striking an aggressor on its territory.”
Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller maintained a more cautious stance, affirming that Ukraine must determine its own military tactics.
As the conflict escalates, the international community watches closely, with the stakes higher than ever for both Moscow and Kyiv.
The latest developments indicate that the war, once confined to Ukrainian territory, is now increasingly spilling over into Russia, with unpredictable and far-reaching consequences.
