Russia in 'counter-terror' mode over Ukraine attack

In response to a sudden attack from Ukraine, Russia has ramped up its military presence in the Kursk region by sending additional tanks and rocket launchers. The Russian government has declared a 'counter-terrorism operation' in three border regions: Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. This declaration allows authorities to impose restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles, as well as to monitor communications through phone tapping. The Ukrainian offensive has now entered its fifth day, and while Kyiv has not officially acknowledged the incursion, reports indicate that Ukrainian troops are making significant advances into Russian territory. This marks the deepest penetration into Russia since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. During a recent meeting of the security council, President Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing situation. A video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense showed their forces conducting missile strikes against Ukrainian military assets near the border area. The National Counter-Terrorism Committee (Nak) announced the new security measures, stating that they were implemented to ensure the safety of citizens and to counter the threat posed by enemy sabotage and reconnaissance units. The authorities now possess the power to enter private residences, restrict traffic and pedestrian movement, temporarily relocate individuals, and monitor electronic communications. This escalation comes as Moscow struggles to contain the Ukrainian offensive, with reports indicating that over 76,000 individuals have been evacuated from the border areas of the Kursk region. According to Russian state news agency Tass, up to 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, crossed into the Kursk region on Tuesday morning. Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces have captured several villages and are now threatening the regional town of Sudzha. A video surfaced on Friday, allegedly showing armed Ukrainian soldiers claiming control over Sudzha and a key Gazprom gas facility located there. The BBC has confirmed that the footage was indeed taken from the Gazprom facility on the northwestern outskirts of Sudzha, approximately 7 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. However, the video does not provide conclusive evidence that Ukrainian troops have taken full control of the town, as some Russian military bloggers have asserted that Sudzha remains under Moscow's control. Earlier, the BBC verified another video that depicted a damaged Russian convoy consisting of 15 vehicles, which had been abandoned on a road in the town of Oktyabrskoe, located roughly 38 kilometers from the border. The footage also showed Russian soldiers, some of whom appeared to be injured or possibly deceased among the wreckage. In light of the ongoing conflict, Moscow has dispatched reinforcements, including tanks and rocket-launching systems, to the Kursk region. The Russian defense ministry reported that its troops are actively working to repel the Ukrainian invasion, claiming that Ukraine's attempts to penetrate deep into Russian territory have been thwarted. However, these claims have not been independently verified. On Friday, the United Nations nuclear agency urged both Russia and Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint as the fighting draws closer to the Kursk nuclear power plant, one of the largest facilities of its kind in Russia. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized the need for measures to prevent a nuclear accident that could have severe radiological consequences. The power plant is situated approximately 60 kilometers northeast of Sudzha.