Russia prepares to strike Kyiv in response to Ukrainian offensive

The Russian Federation is preparing to retaliate against Ukraine for the operation in the Kursk region, writes the British daily "The Times." Vladimir Putin's army is likely soon to carry out a massive missile attack on Kyiv.

Since 6 August, Ukraine has been operating in the Russian Kursk region. Several dozen villages have been occupied, and fighting is ongoing in the Sudzha area. Russia had to evacuate about 76,000 residents.

A high-ranking source in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence revealed in an interview with the British daily "The Times" that Ukraine expects a strong response from the Russian Federation in the form of a missile attack on essential targets in Kyiv.

"Russia feels the need to give a very tough response, something grandiose, to show the world that it is all-powerful and that something like Kursk will not go unpunished," said the source. The newspaper writes that the Russians are likely to try to destroy the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada and other government buildings.

At the beginning of last week, Ukrainians entered the Kursk region and occupied numerous villages. The Russian authorities on Friday evening introduced a "counter-terrorist operation regime" in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions, which border Ukraine.

Due to the Ukrainian strike, Russia began evacuations of several border regions. In total, about 76,000 people were relocated. According to "The Washington Post," the Ukrainian operation represents the biggest challenge for Vladimir Putin since the mutiny of Wagner Group mercenaries and their "march on Moscow" in June 2023.

On Sunday, the AFP agency wrote that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are participating in the offensive aimed at destabilising Russia. "The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border," said a security forces representative, requesting anonymity.