Russian Reinforcement Forces Enter Emergency Status on the Fourth Day of Ukraine Cross-Border Attacks.

Russian military said on Friday that they were “continuing to repel” Ukraine’s cross-border invasion into the western region of Kursk. This incursion has entered its fourth day, and Russia reportedly is sending reinforcements while declaring a state of emergency.

Russia this week accused Ukraine of launching a cross-border attack in the Russian region of Kursk. It is the deepest cross-border attack by Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian forces are believed to have penetrated as far as 10 kilometers inside Russian territory.

Ukraine has not publicly acknowledged this invasion, but Ukrainian President Zelensky stated on Thursday evening that Russia must “feel” the consequences of invading neighboring countries, without directly mentioning the situation in Kursk.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian military is “continuing to repel” Ukraine’s invasion. Russian authorities claimed that about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers participated in this operation, with 600 reported fatalities and 82 armored vehicles destroyed. However, these numbers cannot be verified.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine has lost over 280 military personnel in the past 24 hours.

As the Ukrainian cross-border raid continues for the fourth day, Russia is deploying reinforcements to the western region of Kursk and announcing a state of emergency there.

On the same day, Ukraine’s Interior Minister stated that Russia attacked a supermarket in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka, resulting in at least 10 deaths and 35 injuries.

“BBC Verify” reviewed related videos showing that as Ukraine’s military carried out a cross-border attack on Kursk, a Russian convoy of 15 vehicles in the area was damaged, burned, and abandoned.

The video also showed Russian soldiers inside the vehicles, some of whom were injured and possibly deceased. The footage was filmed along the E38 highway passing through Oktyabr’skoe town, about 38 kilometers (24 miles) from the southern Russia-Ukraine border.

This video has been widely shared on social media and the Telegram messaging app. The uploader of the video has been detained.

The Ukrainian military stated that they conducted a night raid on a military airfield deep within Russian territory, destroying glide bombs stored in warehouses.

In a statement, the Ukrainian military reported that Lipetsk Airport, located over 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the Ukrainian border, had a large fire and multiple explosions.

The statement mentioned the airport is known for hosting Russian Su-34, Su-35, and MiG-31 fighter jets but did not provide further details on the nighttime raid.

Authorities in the Lipetsk region stated that the area is now in a state of emergency and confirmed explosions occurring at “energy infrastructure.” Residents from four nearby villages are being evacuated.

Images provided by Russian officials appear to show personnel from Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry assisting in evacuations. Since the Ukrainian military launched a cross-border attack, thousands of people have seemingly evacuated from the Kursk region of Russia.

Media sources quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense saying Russia is currently deploying reinforcements to the Kursk region.

According to reports from TASS and RIA Novosti, multiple Grad rocket launchers, artillery pieces, and heavy armored vehicles have been deployed around the besieged town of Sudzha.

RIA Novosti also released a video purportedly showing a convoy of Russian military trucks entering the Kursk region.

Despite long-standing Western concerns about escalation, Ukraine’s allies believe this action falls within Ukraine’s right to self-defense.

Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian front line, fighting continues as usual. Ukrainian police reported an attack on a supermarket in the town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk front line area on Friday, resulting in 11 deaths and 37 injuries.

The Interior Minister of Ukraine stated that the fire from the attack has been extinguished. Thick black smoke can be seen rising from the destroyed buildings in official photos and videos.

President Zelensky mentioned on X that “Russian terrorists attacked an ordinary supermarket and a post office. There are still people under the rubble.” He added that emergency responders continue to search for survivors in the wreckage.

Governor Vadym Filashkin initially stated that Russia used artillery but later claimed the attack was carried out by an X-38 air-to-ground missile.

Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private postal company, reported that its shipping office in the supermarket was damaged in the attack.

“All of our employees are alive,” the company stated on X, “One colleague has a concussion and is receiving all necessary treatment.”

The Interior Minister’s Telegram message mentioned residential homes, shops, and over a dozen cars were also damaged in the attack.

Kostyantynivka is located about 13 kilometers from the eastern front line of Ukraine and faces attacks almost daily.

The region is one of the fiercest battle zones, with Russia directing artillery towards areas in the direction of Pokrovsk, a key strategic logistics hub in eastern Ukraine.