Russia’s foreign ministry claimed that Ukraine used foreign rockets to destroy a bridge in the Kursk region. Russia said the rockets are likely U.S.-made HIMARS.
“For the first time, the Kursk region was hit by Western-made rocket launchers. It was probably American HIMARS,” Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said.
“As a result of the attack on the bridge in the Glushkovo district, it was completely destroyed, and volunteers who were assisting the evacuated civilian population were killed.”
Ukraine said that in order to force Russia to start fair peace talks, it sent forces into Kursk region.
Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Friday that Kyiv’s forces were advancing between 1 and 3 kilometres in some areas in the Kursk region. This came 11 days after Ukraine began an incursion into Russia.
Kyiv has claimed to have taken control of 82 settlements over an area of 1,150 sq kms in the region since Aug. 6.
Independent verification of either side’s battlefield accounts has not been possible.
For Ukraine’s first ground offensive on Russian soil, Russia has blamed the West for its support and encouragement.
Russia said that Kyiv’s “terrorist invasion” would not change the course of the war.
The USA and Western powers, eager to avoid military confrontation with Russia, said that Ukraine had not given advance notice. Washington has also denied any involvement.
The US has deemed the surprise incursion of Ukraine into Russia as a protective move. Washington said that the use of US. weaponry is justified and it cannot let Russian President Putin win the war he launched in February 2022.
(With inputs from Reuters)
