Putin vows to expel Ukrainian forces

Russian citizens are refugees from war. State television has shown images of displaced populations. Already more than 120,000 refugees have been registered and humanitarian aid is being organized. The Russian authorities want to demonstrate that the situation is under control, even if they recognize a Ukrainian offensive on their territory.

Alexei Smirnov, acting governor of the Kursk region, said that about 20 localities were under enemy control so far. Several thousand Ukrainian soldiers are said to be involved in this unprecedented ground incursion. For Vladimir Putin, there is no question of letting them penetrate further into Russian territory: “The main task of the Ministry of Defense is to drive out and expel enemies from our territories.“Local Russian authorities have already counted around ten dead and more than a hundred injured, including children.