After days of not saying much about it, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged his troops’ offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine has pushed past the Russian border in its largest incursion inside Russian territory since the conflict began, forcing authorities there to evacuate over 76,000 people. Zelensky says it proves they can “restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor.” Reports say the “surprise” assault caught the Kremlin off guard and exploited “Russia’s lack of readiness in its border areas”. And it’s seen as a humiliation for Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving open the question of how he will respond – experts say redeploying troops to Kursk could “create vulnerabilities in Russian defences elsewhere” so aerial bombing campaigns are expected. Whatever the means, Russian officials say they will respond with force.