In a surprising move, Ukraine has established a military administrative office in Russia's Kursk region, as its incursion into Russian territory continues. General Oleksandr Syrsky, the top military commander of Ukraine, stated that the office's purpose is to maintain law and order while meeting the immediate needs of the population in the area. The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and was shared on social media.

Russia's Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, responded to Ukraine's actions by declaring that Moscow would send reinforcements to safeguard the population in the region. Ukraine further claimed additional gains in its incursion on Thursday. Gen Syrsky revealed that Ukrainian troops had penetrated 35 kilometers into the Kursk region, now controlling 1,150 square kilometers of territory, including 82 settlements. This deep incursion marks Ukraine's most significant advancement into Russian territory since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.

However, Kyiv has emphasized that it does not seek to annex Russian territory but rather aims to pressure Moscow into restoring a just peace. The Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman, Heorhiy Tykhy, reiterated this stance to reporters, stating that the incursion was intended to bring about a diplomatic resolution.

In response to the incursion, Russian officials have prepared plans for additional measures to protect the population and infrastructure in regions bordering Ukraine. These measures will involve enhancing the management of troops in the Belgorod region, which neighbors Kursk. It is reported that the plans may also apply to the Kursk and Bryansk regions, all three of which share a border with Ukraine. Russia has also declared a federal-level emergency in the Belgorod region, with 11,000 people already evacuated from the Krasnaya Yaruga district.

Amidst these developments, the UK has confirmed that tanks donated by them have been used by Ukraine during the incursion. The specific tanks supplied by the UK were not disclosed, but the UK Ministry of Defence reiterated Ukraine's right to use UK-supplied weapons for self-defense against Russia's illegal attacks. Additionally, military equipment provided by the United States and Germany is also being utilized by Ukraine in their incursion.

While there have been no objections from the supplying countries regarding the use of their equipment, concerns remain about the potential ramifications of the ongoing conflict. The West is particularly wary of both Ukraine's potential losses and how Russia will respond. The Kremlin has already accused the West of orchestrating the attack on its territory, and the involvement of Western weapons could be seen as supporting this claim. Escalation is worrisome, especially when dealing with a nuclear-armed state like Russia, which has not shied away from displaying its nuclear capabilities. The West had initially been warned against supplying tanks to Ukraine, a warning that went unheeded.

However, it is worth noting that there are still limitations on Western countries granting permission for Ukraine's use of long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. The missiles provided by Britain, France, and the US are permitted for use exclusively within Ukraine, including Crimea.

As Russian forces make slow progress in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine's military has executed an unexpected cross-border attack, intensifying the already tense situation between the two nations.