Kursk Region under repeated Ukrainian shelling, drone attacks, officials report

Lead

Over the past several days, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly shelled and attacked populated areas in Russia's Kursk Region, according to statements from the region's governor, Alexander Khinshtein, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS. The reports describe intense artillery bombardments and drone strikes, with some accounts citing property damage and civilian casualties, including at least one fatality.

Coverage Comparison

TASS has published multiple reports on the attacks, with some variation in the figures provided. A report dated June 13 describes nearly 140 artillery strikes and 165 drones intercepted in a 24-hour period, with no casualties reported. Another report, dated June 3, puts the number of artillery attacks at over 160 and drones shot down at 164 in the same timeframe. A third report, dated June 7, focuses on a specific drone attack that killed a resident in the Glushkovo District.

The discrepancies between the reports likely reflect different time periods and possibly evolving situations on the ground. The June 3 and June 13 reports appear to cover different days, while the June 7 report highlights a single incident within that broader context.

Key Claims

• Scale of attacks: Governor Khinshtein, as quoted by TASS, stated that over a 24-hour period from June 2 to June 3, Ukrainian forces used artillery against settlements 167 times and launched eight explosive drone attacks. Air defenses intercepted 164 drones, he said.
• More recent figures: For a later period, June 12 to June 13, Khinshtein reported 138 artillery attacks and four explosive drone attacks, with 165 drones shot down.
• Property damage: The reports detail damage to homes, fences, vehicles, and a boiler house in several villages, including Rybinskiye Budy, Durovo, and Selektsionny.
• Casualties: On June 7, Khinshtein reported the death of a 60-year-old man in a drone attack in the village of Nizhny Mordok in the Glushkovo District. He also reported injuries to a 46-year-old man and a woman in the Rylsk District in separate drone attacks.
• Prior injuries: On June 2, according to TASS, Khinshtein reported that two men were wounded in the Belovsky District and a woman was injured in the village of Maloye Soldatskoye.

Perspectives

The accounts come exclusively from Russian official sources via TASS, a state-run news agency. The information cannot be independently verified, and international media have not yet reported on these specific incidents. The framing of the reports emphasizes the frequency and intensity of Ukrainian attacks on populated areas, consistent with the Russian government's portrayal of Ukraine as an aggressor targeting civilians.

It is also important to note that the figures provided are specific to the Kursk Region, which borders Ukraine and has been a focal point of cross-border activity since the beginning of the conflict. The reports do not mention any military objectives or Ukrainian statements, so the full context of these attacks remains unclear.

As the situation continues to develop, further details and independent verification may emerge.