Russia Launches Counter-Terror Operation to Halt Ukrainian Troops as Nuclear Plant Faces Threat

Moscow has escalated its efforts to repel advancing Ukrainian forces, launching a "counter-terror operation" across three critical border regions—Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk. This move comes as Ukrainian troops executed a significant cross-border offensive, marking one of the most aggressive and successful incursions since the conflict began two and a half years ago.

The operation was initiated on Saturday after Ukrainian units stormed into Russia’s Kursk region earlier in the week. The attack took Russia by surprise, pushing several kilometers into its territory and prompting a swift response. The Russian army has since deployed reserves and additional equipment, though details on the scale of forces engaged remain scarce. Both sides have been tight-lipped about their troop numbers and military hardware involved.

A particularly alarming aspect of the situation is the proximity of the conflict to the Kursk nuclear power plant. Russia's nuclear agency, Rosatom, has warned that the Ukrainian offensive poses a "direct threat" to the facility, which lies less than 50 kilometers from the ongoing clashes. The potential danger of a nuclear incident has drawn international concern, with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency urging for "maximum restraint."

The human cost of this escalation is already becoming apparent. At least 16,000 civilians from Russian border areas have sought state assistance to flee their homes, with emergency aid being ferried in and extra trains arranged to transport people to Moscow. A woman from the border zone, speaking at a Moscow train station, expressed the gravity of the situation: "The war has come to us."

In response to the Ukrainian incursion, Russia's national anti-terrorism committee has granted sweeping emergency powers to security forces and the military in the affected regions. These measures include movement restrictions, vehicle seizures, monitoring of communications, and heightened security at key infrastructure sites. The committee described Ukraine's actions as an "unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation" in Russia.

As the conflict intensifies, Russia has also launched retaliatory strikes. On Friday, a missile strike on a supermarket in eastern Ukraine's Kostyantynivka killed at least 14 people. Further north, in the Kharkiv region, three more casualties were reported on Saturday.

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has also reacted to the Ukrainian offensive. On Saturday, Minsk ordered the deployment of military reinforcements, including ground troops, air units, air defense systems, and rocket systems, closer to its border with Ukraine.

While Kyiv has not provided explicit details about its operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at early successes, particularly in capturing Russian soldiers who could be used in future prisoner exchanges. This development has been a significant morale booster for Ukrainian forces, although the broader implications of the incursion remain uncertain.

The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, has estimated that Ukrainian forces have penetrated around 13 kilometers into Russian territory. The breadth of the offensive, with reports of engagements up to 30 kilometers apart, suggests a well-coordinated and ambitious push by Ukraine.

This latest phase of the conflict underscores the volatile and unpredictable nature of the war. With both sides escalating their military efforts and the looming threat to a nuclear power plant, the stakes have never been higher. The international community watches with growing concern as the situation unfolds, hoping to avert further disaster in this deeply entrenched conflict.