Vladimir Putin is flailing as he faces his biggest challenge yet in the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.
The Russian leader was forced to declare a “Federal-level” state of emergency on Friday night in the Kursk region as around 2000 Ukrainian soldiers consolidated their positions following a “mini-invasion” earlier this week.
The announcement came hours after the Ukrainian military launched a bold strike on a strategically important airfield.
Putin later retaliated by ordering a devastating missile attack on a shopping centre in Kostiantynivka, in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast province.
It came as alarm continued to grow in the Kremlin over the Kyiv-led incursion.
Russian military units are being scrambled from across the country — and from the frontline — in a bid to challenge the Ukrainians, who are using Western military vehicles and weapons.
Putin also convened the Kremlin’s Security Council as questions mounted over Ukraine’s seizure of an estimated 100 square miles of Russian territory.
Five days on from Ukraine’s surprise advance into the Kursk region, Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces appear to be staying put.
In a national broadcast, the Ukrainian president said his troops had “turned the tables’ by invading Russia.
The presence of Ukrainian troops is embarrassing both for Putin himself and the Russian army’s top brass.
In a televised meeting on Wednesday, Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, assured Putin that the offensive had been halted.
But this was very much not the case — as footage that emerged yesterday confirmed the advance ran roughshod over Russian defences in the region.
A verified video showed a trail of destruction at the side of the E38 highway, including burned-out military trucks, personnel carriers and armoured cars.
Dozens of Kremlin soldiers were feared to have lost their lives in the attack, which took place 20 miles inside Russia.
A Russian channel on Telegram reported: “many dead, some of the vehicles burned to the ground. it looks like the entire column was carrying infantry.
“They were armed, most likely a platoon per vehicle, three to four companies. An entire battalion was destroyed.
“Judging by the appearance of the column about half were killed. This is one of the bloodiest and biggest strikes of the entire war.”
In the absence of any organised withdrawal of civilians by the Kremlin, thousands of Russians took it upon themselves to flee from areas of the Kursk region that are either already occupied by Ukrainian forces or could be in the coming days.
Families from the towns and villages in the area were seen queuing for trains in the hope of escape, after waiting in vain to be rescued by Russian troops for several days.
Meanwhile, footage emerged last night of triumphant Ukrainian soldiers posing outside the headquarters of the Gazprom energy corporation in the town of Sudzha.
An officer from Ukraine’s 61st brigade explained the town was “under Ukrainian control and everything is peaceful here”.
This is the first time since the conflict began that Ukrainian troops have held territory inside Russia.
Analysts say the land grab could provide Kyiv with crucial leverage in any future peace talks with the Kremlin.
In another blow to Russia, Ukraine also successfully targeted the Lipetsk military airfield, destroying Russian glide bombers in the attack.
A state of emergency was declared there, with thousands of people evacuated from villages near the facilities.
“Several sources of ignition were recorded, a large fire broke out and multiple detonations were observed,” Kyiv’s military said on the Telegram messaging app.
It also said that Russian Su-34, Su-35 and MiG-31 aircraft were based at the airfield.
Russia’s response was to launch missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk region yesterday.
One warhead struck a supermarket, killing at least 14 people and injuring 43.
Footage from the site showed plumes of smoke billowing from the rubble, beneath which survivors were thought to be trapped.
Surrounding shops and vehicles were also damaged.
Posting on X, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said: “No situation on the battlefield can justify targeting civilians.”