For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged that Ukrainian forces are actively engaged in a surprise offensive in Russia's Kursk region, leading to intense battles as Russian authorities scramble to evacuate civilians from at-risk areas. The offensive, now in its sixth day, marks the largest incursion into Russian territory by Ukrainian forces since the war began, exposing vulnerabilities in Russia's southwestern regions before reinforcements could be deployed.

In response to the escalating situation, Russia imposed a stringent security regime across three border regions on Saturday. Meanwhile, Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, increased its troop presence along its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of airspace violations.

During his nightly address, Zelenskiy reported on the operation after discussions with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasizing Ukraine's resolve to push the war into Russian territory and restore justice following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Zelenskiy stated, "Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor."

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian attack, which military analysts believe caught the Kremlin by surprise, labeling it a significant provocation. While Russian forces have reportedly halted the Ukrainian advance, they have yet to fully repel the Ukrainian troops back across the border. Despite the arrival of reinforcements, Russian military bloggers noted that Ukraine continues to build up its forces swiftly.

Early Sunday, Kursk officials reported that 13 people were injured in the city after debris from a Ukraine-launched missile struck a nine-story residential building. Kursk's acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, ordered an accelerated evacuation of civilians from high-risk areas. On Saturday, Russia's TASS state news agency reported that over 76,000 people had already been evacuated.

Both Kyiv and Moscow deny targeting civilians in their respective attacks throughout the conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of Ukrainians, with no resolution in sight. Russian military bloggers have raised concerns about the situation, questioning how Ukrainian forces were able to penetrate as far as 20 km (12 miles) into the Kursk region.