“Russian Response to Ukrainian Incursion: Putin’s Pledge to Regain Lost Land”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to expel enemy forces from his country’s territory following reports of Ukrainian troops seizing dozens of Russian villages and significant areas of land. This development marks a significant escalation a week into Kyiv’s unexpected cross-border offensive.

During a meeting on Monday with regional officials and key figures from Russia’s security, government, and law enforcement sectors, the full extent of the incursion was revealed. Aleksey Smirnov, the acting head of the Kursk region, informed Putin that 28 settlements within his jurisdiction were now under Ukrainian control. He added that Ukrainian forces had advanced approximately 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) into Russian territory, spanning a 25-mile (40-kilometer) wide section of the border.

Ukrainian military leader Oleksandr Syrskyi also reported on Monday that about 386 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of Russian territory were now under Ukrainian control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the restoration of destroyed housing and infrastructure in regions of southwest Russia that border Ukraine, via a video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia February 1, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

Putin described the incursion as an attempt by Ukraine to “improve its negotiation position,” questioning the possibility of discussions with those who target civilians and critical infrastructure. He expressed doubts about engaging in talks with parties who “indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities.”

CNN has not independently verified Putin’s claims of Ukrainian attacks on civilians during the incursion. Throughout the conflict, Russia has been repeatedly accused of targeting Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure by Kyiv, Western allies, and international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the United Nations. Russia has consistently denied these allegations, despite evidence to the contrary.

Putin instructed his security chiefs to focus on removing Ukrainian forces from Russian territory, emphasizing the need for the Ministry of Defense and the border guard service to ensure the state border’s security.

The Ukrainian advances have triggered widespread evacuations from the affected border regions. Smirnov reported that 180,000 people had been advised to evacuate, with 121,000 already leaving the area.

In the neighboring Belgorod region in southern Russia, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced the relocation of residents from the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer locations due to increased enemy activities. He expressed confidence in the military’s ability to address the threat while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the local population.

Andrey Miskov, the head of the district administration, later confirmed that approximately 11,000 residents from the Krasnoyaruzhsky district had been evacuated.