In a surprising move, Ukraine has launched its deepest incursion into Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion more than two years ago. The Ukrainian troops have destroyed a strategically important bridge over the river Seym, near the town of Glushkovo, cutting off part of the local district and potentially hampering the Kremlin's supply efforts to its troops. This development comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces were strengthening their positions in Russia's Kursk region and referred to the captured territories as an "exchange fund", suggesting they could be used in negotiations for the return of Ukrainian regions occupied by Moscow.

The ongoing operation has led to the displacement of more than 120,000 people, with Ukraine claiming territorial gains without any intention of occupying Russian territories. A senior aide to President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's objective with the incursion was to bring Moscow to the negotiating table on their own terms. Mykhailo Podolyak highlighted the effectiveness of their military actions as a means of coercion to persuade Russia to engage in fair negotiations.

Head of the Ukrainian military, Oleksandr Syrsky, announced that the offensive had made further progress, with the offensive group advancing in some areas up to three kilometers closer to the enemy. Syrsky expressed his hope of capturing "many prisoners" during a battle in the village of Mala Loknya, which is situated around 13 kilometers from the border.

Amid Ukraine's advance into Russia, officials in Russia's Belgorod region, neighboring Ukraine, have declared the evacuation of five villages starting on Monday. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated that access to these settlements would be closed and residents provided assistance in relocating and safeguarding their property.

However, as Ukraine continues its incursion into western Russian territory, Russian forces are also making gains in Ukraine's east. Russian troops claimed the capture of Serhiivka, adding to a series of towns recently taken by Russian forces. These advances bring Russian troops closer to Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub along the eastern front supplying Ukrainian troops. Pokrovsk lies northwest of the Russian-held Donetsk region, which has experienced ongoing shelling from Ukrainian forces, resulting in civilian injuries.

In response to the escalation, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, allied with Russia, blamed Kyiv for a strike on a shopping center that left at least seven people wounded. Reports from Reuters stated that over the past 24 hours, three civilians were killed and five others injured, according to Donetsk's regional head.

Meanwhile, in Crimea, missiles targeting a bridge, built under Russian President Vladimir Putin's orders, were successfully shot down overnight, according to the defense ministry. The Kerch Bridge has been a repeated target of Ukrainian attacks since the start of Moscow's military offensive.

The recent developments in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict have led to major global implications, with various nations potentially interfering. US officials are closely monitoring the situation, assessing how Russian President Putin might react to changes in the use of US weapons in the war.

As both Ukraine and Russia continue to make advances into each other's territories, the conflict shows no signs of abating, raising concerns about the lasting impact on the region and international stability.