War

In the Russian region of Kursk, a state of emergency has been declared amidst a Ukrainian ground offensive. Governor Alexei Smirnov announced this in a Telegram post. The Ukraine has advanced deep into Russian territory near Kursk in a counterattack. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the offensive began on Tuesday and reached the northwest of the city of Sudzha on Wednesday.

20:14 Fighting nearby: Russia reinforces protection of Kursk NPPDue to the Ukrainian advance into the Russian border area of Kursk, the Russian National Guard is reinforcing the protection of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Additionally, extra forces are being deployed to combat sabotage and reconnaissance units in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, the agency said, in cooperation with the Russian border troops and the army. The nuclear power plant, with four units and a capacity of almost two gigawatts, is located only about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The day before, Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery crossed the Russian border from the Sumy region at Sudzha, reportedly advancing up to 15 kilometers towards the NPP.**

19:38 Attacks in Kursk region: European gas price hits yearly highThe price of European natural gas has risen to its highest level this year. The leading TTF futures contract for delivery next month rose by 5.7 percent to 38.78 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) in Amsterdam. Market participants are referring to the Ukrainian attacks on the Russian region of Kursk. The fighting is reportedly taking place near Sudzha, an important gas injection point that supplies Western Europe through Ukrainian pipelines. Energy giant Gazprom currently reports normal gas supplies.**

19:08 Ukraine evacuates border areas near Russian KurskGiven the heavy fighting in the Russian Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more settlements in the neighboring Sumy region. The measures affect 23 settlements, said Sumy military governor Vladimir Artjuch on Ukrainian television. Around 6,000 people, including over 400 children and adolescents, are to be moved to safety from the border area. The day before, Ukrainian troops launched an incursion across the Ukrainian-Russian border towards the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region, advancing several kilometers onto Russian territory. Moscow reported around 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers equipped with heavy machinery. Kyiv has not yet commented on the events. In May, local authorities had already ordered evacuations from a 10-kilometer-wide border area due to regular Russian shelling of border settlements.**