Thousands of troops deployed in incursion to destabilise Russia: Kyiv

Push across border to show up enemy’s weaknesses, inflict maximum losses, says official

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Thousands of Ukrainian troops are taking part in a major incursion into Russian territory, aiming to destabilise Russia by showing up its weaknesses, a top Ukrainian official has said.

"We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border," the security official said on condition of anonymity.

The Russian army said about 1,000 Ukrainian troops were deployed in the cross-border incursion, which began on Aug 6 and appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, allowing Ukrainian forces to penetrate Russian defensive lines.

Asked whether the 1,000 figure was right, the official said: "It is a lot more... Thousands." After days of official silence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the offensive in his nightly address on Aug 10, saying Kyiv was "pushing the war into the aggressor's territory".

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has waged an unrelenting campaign, occupying swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine and subjecting Ukrainian cities to daily missile and drone attacks.

After recapturing large areas in 2022, Ukrainian forces have largely been on the back foot and are increasingly struggling with manpower and arms supplies.