Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced further into Russian territory, marking Ukraine's deepest incursion since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The Ukrainian military has claimed control over the town of Sudzha in Russia's western border region of Kursk, while conflicting statements from both countries make it difficult to determine the extent of territorial gains.

The surprise attack on Kursk has led Russian authorities to declare a state of emergency in the region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that troops had advanced 1-2 kilometers deeper into Kursk since Wednesday morning and had captured 100 Russian soldiers. However, Russia has asserted that it has halted any further advances by Ukrainian forces.

The ongoing operation, now in its second week, has resulted in uncertainty regarding the amount of Russian territory seized by Ukrainian troops. While Ukrainian officials claim significant progress, Russia maintains that it has successfully blocked Ukrainian military advances.

In an interview with Russian state-controlled TV channel, Channel One, Maj-Gen Apti Alaudinov of the Chechen Akhmat special forces unit stated that Ukrainian troops had been almost entirely contained. Conversely, Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian troops had taken control of Sudzha town in Kursk. The BBC has been unable to independently verify these claims.

Despite Kyiv's territorial claims, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy emphasized that Ukraine has no interest in occupying Russian territory. Tykhy stated that Ukrainian defence forces would cease their raids into Russia once Russia agrees to restore peace. Ukrainian President Zelensky previously suggested setting up "military commandants' offices" in the region and Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk outlined plans for a "security zone" in Kursk to protect Ukraine's borders.

The situation in Kursk has been described as tense by local officials from Russia's liberal opposition party, Yabloko. Yan Furtsev revealed that approximately 180,000 civilians need to be evacuated due to the ongoing conflict. While 121,000 have already left, Furtsev highlighted the need for basic essentials such as food and clothing for those displaced by the fighting.

In addition to the situation in Kursk, Russia has declared a second state of emergency in the Belgorod region due to drone attacks and shelling. Overnight, Russia reported shooting down 117 drones targeting four regions - Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod. Long-range drones were also fired at Russian airfields in Voronezh and Kursk, as well as Savasleyka and Borisoglebsk. The Ukrainian military described it as an "exciting" night at the airports during this specially planned operation.

The international community has expressed support for Ukraine amidst this military operation. US President Joe Biden acknowledged that Ukraine's offensive was creating a dilemma for Putin. Meanwhile, various European allies have voiced their support for Ukraine, including Finland and Estonia's prime ministers and Latvia's foreign minister. The German foreign ministry has also stated that Ukraine has the right to self-defence beyond its own borders.

As Russia continues to face challenges in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine's military has demonstrated its ability to launch successful cross-border attacks. The ongoing operation highlights the complexities and unpredictability of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.