00:00Ukraine has launched its largest cross-border attack into Russia's Kursk region since the
00:29war began.
00:30This incursion, involving up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops and numerous Western-supplied tanks
00:35and armoured vehicles, took place in the Sudza district on Tuesday.
00:40In response to this attack, Ukraine is now seeking permission from the United States
00:45to use the long-range ATACMS missiles.
00:49These missiles, with a range of up to 300 km, can potentially allow Ukraine to strike
00:54Russian airfields.
00:57A senior Ukrainian official speaking anonymously to the Washington Post suggested that these
01:02missiles can help Ukraine maintain the control of a portion of Kursk region for some time.
01:09The official also emphasized that this capability may give Ukraine the leverage in future negotiations
01:14with Russia.
01:20These are court statements made by Mikhail Podolyak, another aide to Ukrainian President
01:24Volodymyr Zelensky.
01:26The Russian President Vladimir Putin has described this incursion as a large-scale
01:30provocation accusing the Ukrainian forces of indiscriminately attacking civilians and
01:35emergency services.
01:37In contrast, the United States, Ukraine's primary supporter, has stated that these actions
01:42are not escalatory but rather self-defensive.
01:47While Ukraine may claim that it has made progress in the Sudza district, which houses a crucial
01:51gas metering station for Russian energy exports to the EU, Moscow reports that Ukrainian advance
01:57is now stopped.
01:59Russia estimates that Ukraine has lost over 400 troops and dozens of armored vehicles
02:04in the operation.
02:05The Washington Post reports suggests that Ukrainian officials feel a sense of urgency
02:09to improve their military position before the November U.S. presidential elections.
02:16Previously in May, the U.S. had allowed Ukraine to use American-made weapons to strike up
02:20to 100 kilometers inside Russian territory.
02:23This decision came in response to the Russian advance in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.
02:27However, the range limit still keeps some high-priority targets like airfields out of
02:33Ukraine's reach.
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