Three Russian border regions declare ‘counter-terrorist operation,’ almost four days into Ukraine’s Kursk incursion

According to announcements by regional administrations and Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the governors of the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions have implemented a “counter-terrorist operation” throughout their territories. The Anti-Terrorism Committee’s statement describes an “increased level of sabotage and terrorist threats from Ukraine,” denouncing Kyiv’s “unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation in several regions of our country.” The committee also notes civilian casualties and the destruction of local housing.

For nearly four days, Russian border guards have been fighting and reportedly losing ground to Ukraine’s Armed Forces near the city of Sudzha, despite the Russian military’s repeated claims that Ukrainian troops are retreating. On Friday, August 9, a special commission called by Russia’s Civil Defense and Disaster Relief Ministry assessed the fighting in the Kursk region as a “federal-level emergency.”

During counter-terrorist operations, local authorities are empowered to evacuate citizens and vehicles from specific areas, disconnect communication services, and monitor telephone conversations. Police officers executing anti-terrorism measures are granted the right to enter all premises without a search warrant.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials have declared counter-terrorist operations twice before: in the Belgorod region in May 2023 when the far-right paramilitary Russian Volunteer Corps raided several towns, and in the Moscow and Voronezh regions in June 2023 when mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed mutiny against the Russian Defense Ministry.