Ukraine-Russia latest: Ukraine now controls 1,000sq km of Russian territory, official says - as Putin responds to Kyiv's assaults (2024)

The US has said it is deeply concerned by reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.

State department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters this afternoon that such a move would represent a dramatic escalation.

For context: On Friday, reports emerged that dozens of men in the Russian military were being trained in Iran to use the Fath 360 close-range ballistic missile system.

Two intelligence sources also told Reuters that they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia.

Russian officials are believed to have signed a contract with Iranian officials last December in Tehran for the missiles.

Ukraine controls around 1,000 square kilometres of Russia's Kursk region, Kyiv's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has said in the last few moments.

This is the first time the Kursk region has been named by the Ukrainian commander.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a video excerpt of Mr Syrskyi's report on Telegram.

We have been reporting throughout the day of Ukraine's biggest attack on Russian territory since the start of the war.

Ukrainian forces rammed through the Russian border last Tuesday and swept across some western parts of Russia's Kursk region, a surprise attack that has laid bare the weakness of Russian border defences in the area.

Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) has said that Russia is trying to falsely accuse Kyiv's military of war crimes.

In a statement on Telegram, the SBU said it had information showing Russia might stage crimes for which it would blame Ukraine.

"The Security Service of Ukraine notes the attempts of the special services of the Russian Federation to use the situation in the Kursk region to groundlessly accuse Ukrainian defenders of committing war crimes," the SBU said.

"To do this, the Russian side creates and spreads various fakes and information leaks that have nothing to do with reality."

For context: Earlier, Alexei Smirnov, acting governor of the Kursk region, was quoted by Russian state media as saying Ukrainian forces had used shells containing chemical weapons.

Mr Smirnov said Ukraine had taken control of 28 settlements in the Kursk region.

We have been reporting today on Vladimir Putin's response to the Ukrainian army's invasion of the Kursk region, which has caused more than 100,000 civilians to flee.

Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to the surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting, but Mr Putin insisted Moscow's army would prevail.

Speaking at a meeting with top security and defence officials, the Russian leader said the attack that began on 6 August appeared to reflect Kyiv's attempt to gain a better negotiating position in possible future talks to end the war.

He argued that Ukraine may have hoped to cause public unrest in Russia with the attack, adding that it has failed to achieve that goal, and claimed that the number of volunteers to join the Russian military had increased because of the assault.

Here are some of the scenes that have emerged today of Mr Putin's meeting with security officials and regional governors to discuss the situation...

Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis has said he signed a joint declaration with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani expressing "deep concern" over Russian aggression in Ukraine, but said Moscow should be present at the next peace summit.

Switzerland in mid-June hosted dozens of world leaders at a summit aimed at crafting a pathway towards peace in Ukraine, although Russia was not invited.

Now, Mr Cassis has said on X: "We support holding a second peace summit that includes all parties, including Russia."

Vladimir Putin appeared "rattled" as he discussed Ukraine's invasion of Russia's Kursk border region, an expert has said.

We reported earlier on Mr Putin's comments to Russian officials (see 13.14 post), when he said the country's domestic weapons industry was "taking into account the combat experience gained during the special military operation" in Ukraine.

Speaking at a meeting with top security and defence officials, the Russian president also said Ukraine had failed in its aim to destabilise Russia with its attack.

Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at theInternational Institute for Strategic Studies, is among analysts who have offered their take on the leader's demeanour during the public appearance.

"Putin discussing Ukraine’s incursion into Russia, which he says the West is behind," he said.

"He looks and sounds not angry, outraged, determined - but hesitant and rattled."

We've more now to bring you from Alexei Smirnov, who has just told Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian troops now control 28 settlements of the Kursk region.

Speaking to the Russian president during a video conference with governors of affected regions, Mr Smirnov said the invasion in Kursk was up to 12km (7.5 miles) deep along a 40km (25 mile) front.

He said the number of civilians killed in the attack which began last week now stands at 12, while 121 have been injured.

Some 121,000 people have fled their homes in the region while around 59,000 still remain, Mr Smirnov told Mr Putin.

The governor of Russia's Kursk region has claimed Ukrainian forces have used shells containing chemical weapons during their invasion.

Alexei Smirnov's remarks were reported by Russian state media.

Sky News is unable to verify whether Mr Smirnov provided any evidence to back up the claim.

Both Russia and Kyiv have accused one another and reported allegations of use of chemical weapons during the war.

Russia has been "severely embarrassed" by Ukrainian advances inside the country and the evacuation of residents from border regions will "play poorly" among the public, an analyst has said.

Matthew Savill, military sciences director at the Royal United Services Institute, said Russia's response to the invasion has not been "particularly impressive" despite Russian forces managing to halt some advances.

"TheRussians have been severely embarrassed and the loss of territory and evacuation of civilians will play poorly back in Russia as evidence they 'can't defend themselves'," he said.

However, Mr Savill cautioned that sustaining a force inside Russia and defending against counter attacks will be "hard" due to Ukraine's "limited reserves".

"While the Ukrainians have reversed the public narrative about being on the defensive, it seems unlikely they would want to sustain a large incursion for months; they will have a decision to make about the best time to trade in the ground they have captured, and to what end," he said.