Russia introduces counterterrorism measures in Bryansk amid fighting in neighboring Kursk region

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Saturday declared counterterrorism measures in the Bryansk region, neighboring Kursk where the fighting with the Ukrainian troops entered its fifth day.

The decision was made by Sergey Voronin, the head of the regional office of the Federal Security Service (FSB), its press service said in a statement.

The measures included tightened security, including verification of documents, and protection of facilities.

The FSB asked the residents of the region to stay alert and inform the law enforcement about all suspicious incidents and individuals.

On the night of Aug. 5-6, Ukraine intensified shelling of the Russian Kursk region. The artillery barrage was followed by an incursion of Ukrainian infantry, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, near the city of Sudzha.

The Russian Defense Ministry initially reported on Tuesday that 300 Ukrainian troops, 11 tanks, and 20 armored vehicles had crossed the Russian border. But on Wednesday, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed that around 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen were involved in the battle.

Experts suggest several possible objectives for the assault, including the destruction of the Sudzha gas station – through which Russia pumps gas to Europe – diverting Russian command attention from Donbas, disrupting the railway supply route to Russian forces in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, and boosting the morale of the Ukrainian army.

On Saturday morning the Russian Defense Ministry said that the fighting in the Kursk region continues, adding that the Russian aviation carried out strikes on Ukraine's positions and engaged tank units.

On Friday night, Russia’s Lipetsk region adjacent to Kursk suffered a massive drone attack, which left one person killed, and set a military airfield on fire and damaged energy infrastructure, according to regional authorities.