Russia imposes security regime on three border regions

10/8/2024 15:10

        Russia imposed a sweeping security regime in three border regions on Saturday as Moscow scrambled forces to counter Ukraine's biggest attack on Russian sovereign territory since the start of the war in 2022.
        
        Ukrainian forces rammed through the Russian border early on Tuesday and swept across some Western parts of Russia's Kursk region, a surprise attack that may be aimed at gaining leverage in possible ceasefire talks after the U.S. election.
        
        President Vladimir Putin cast it as a major provocation and though Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, said on Wednesday that Ukraine's incursion had been halted, Russia has thus far failed to push the Ukrainian forces back over the border.
        
        "The enemy has been halted so far - but that does not mean that it is all quiet there: there is serious fighting going on there," said Andrei Gurulyov, a lieutenant general who served in Soviet and Russian forces and is now a lawmaker for the ruling party.
        
        Russian military bloggers said the situation had stabilised after Russia rushed in forces to halt the surprise Ukrainian advance, though they said Ukraine was swiftly building up forces and that there were intense battles underway.