Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had engaged Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, as the offensive in the Kursk region entered a sixth day.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of intimidating the peaceful population of Russia.
Overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky directly acknowledged the attack for the first time, saying Ukraine was pushing the war to the aggressor’s territory.
He went on to thank Ukraine’s “warriors” and said he had discussed the operation in Russia with the country’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
