Moscow, August 21, 2024, The Europe Today: The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused NATO countries of assisting Ukraine in planning and executing the ongoing military incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region. This claim comes as tensions continue to escalate between Moscow and Kiev, with Russia previously alleging that the United States and other Western nations have been complicit in enabling Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory, targeting civilians.
According to a statement published by the SVR on Wednesday, Ukrainian forces launched their operation in the Kursk Region with the involvement of security agencies from the US, Britain, and Poland. The SVR further alleged that Ukrainian units responsible for the cross-border attack had undergone training in Britain and Germany.
“Military advisers from NATO countries are helping with the coordination of the invading units and with the use of Western weapons by the Ukrainians,” the SVR stated. The agency also claimed that NATO has been providing Kiev with satellite data to track the movements of Russian troops.
The incursion, which began on August 6, marks Ukraine’s largest offensive into internationally recognized Russian territory to date. Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked border posts and seized control of multiple villages, including Sudzha, a city with a pre-conflict population of 5,000. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky indicated on Sunday that Kiev aims to establish a “buffer zone” on Russian soil.
Western nations backing Ukraine have reportedly endorsed the attack. The Times reported that some of the Ukrainian fighters involved in the operation had received urban combat training in the UK. Additionally, Ukrainian forces have extensively used Western-supplied weapons, including US-made Stryker and German-made Marder armored vehicles, some of which have been destroyed by Russian forces.
In response to the incursion, Moscow arranged the evacuation of civilians from the affected areas and deployed additional forces to repel the Ukrainian advance. The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that Kiev had lost up to 350 troops and 25 armored vehicles in the Kursk Region.
As the conflict intensifies, the involvement of NATO and Western countries continues to be a focal point of tension between Russia and the West, further complicating the already volatile situation.
