Ukraine's bold offensive: British-supplied arms used in Kursk region

The British Ministry of Defence confirmed overnight from Wednesday to Thursday that the United Kingdom does not oppose the use of the weapons it has provided to Ukraine in the offensive on the Kursk region.

– There has been no change in the policy of the UK government – There has been no change in UK government policy – under article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia. We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law – said a spokesman for the British ministry.

About 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers breached the Russian border into the Kursk region a week ago with tanks and armoured vehicles, under the cover of drones and artillery, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing Russian officials. A state of emergency was declared in the Kursk region on Wednesday, August 7.

The assault continues. Ukrainian forces currently occupy an area of about 1,000 square kilometres. This is the first instance since World War II of any part of Russian territory being occupied by foreign troops.

Russians do not want to defend Kursk. According to private correspondence published on the internet, hundreds of conscripts have been forcibly transported to territories occupied by Ukrainians in the Kursk region.

American media, citing anonymous U.S. government officials, report that Russia is withdrawing some of its troops from Ukraine in response to the offensive started in the Kursk region.