Ukraine and Russia have been attacking each other overnight, a weakened to Ukrainian Ukraine's incursion into the Russian border region of cisk. The defense Ministry in Moscow says its air defense units have destroyed 12 drones over KK and one each over uh belgaro and ver. Ukraine's military says it shot down 30 Russian drones and two missiles. Russian war bloggers report continuing battles and curs as well; they say ke's forces are trying to expand their control but are being met by reinforcements sent by the Kremlin. Thousands of people have been evacuated from Russian towns and cities as the Ukrainian troops Advance. Ukrainian troops highlighted here in yellow are reportedly as deep as 32 kilm inside Russia. Ukraine's plan seems to be to draw Russian forces away from the front line in Ukraine shown here in red where Moscow has been making slow but steady gains.
Let's speak now to talk to Patrick, former infantry captain in the British army, former NATO Analyst at a expert at the University of b always good to have you with us here on the BBC. We've just had a statement coming out of Ukraine saying they're not interested in keeping this territory in the kisk region so I wonder what their intention is and what's going to happen now. Yeah, that is really interesting because uh we knew. We kind of got a reading from some top Ukrainian officials about the operational objectives and they were to draw as you mentioned there in your intro, you know, to draw uh forces away from the front line in danet where the Ukrainians are under real pressure. We've had some reports of that but it's unclear whether that's been successful...
We have that coming into US Patrick on just one news agency on AFP quoting a Ukrainian Ministry and another line that they have just fed through as well the sooner that Russia agrees a just peace, the sooner these incursion raids will stop which gives us this motivation for why they have done it obviously but we're now also seeing President Putin come out yesterday saying this's a major provocation report saying he's absolutely Furious about this you have to wonder what the Russian response will be now...
Q: What is the current situation between Ukraine and Russia?
A: Ukraine and Russia have been attacking each other overnight, with reports of drone destruction and ongoing battles. Thousands of people have been evacuated from Russian towns and cities as Ukrainian troops advance into Russian territory.
Q: What is the analysis of Ukraine's military strategy?
A: Ukraine's military strategy includes drawing Russian forces away from the front line in Ukraine to relieve pressure. The intention is not to keep the territory in the Kisk region but to create a diversion.
Q: What are the potential repercussions of the Russian response?
A: President Putin has called the situation a major provocation and is reportedly furious. The Ukrainian Ministry suggests that Russia agreeing to a just peace could lead to the cessation of incursion raids.
