Russia says Ukraine used Western missiles in Kursk region

Late on August 16, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the Telegram messaging app: "For the first time, the Kursk region was attacked by Western-made missile launchers, possibly the US HIMARS system."

"The attack completely destroyed the bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovo district and killed volunteers helping to evacuate civilians," she said.

Ukrainian servicemen drive M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers near the Russian border in the Sumy region, Ukraine, August 16. Photo: Reuters

The head of the Kursk region, Alexander Bogachev, said the Ukrainian military was targeting cars used to evacuate civilians from the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region.

"We are using armored personnel carriers to evacuate people, because they can protect them (from bullets and shrapnel). But the Ukrainian army is trying to destroy them," he said.

On the same day, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian army Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Kiev forces had advanced 1 to 3 km in some areas of the Kursk region, 11 days since the start of the attack on Russia.

Kiev claims to have taken control of 82 settlements covering 1,150 square kilometers in the region since August 6.

On August 15, British media reported that the Challenger 2 tanks that the UK donated to Ukraine were deployed in the attack on Russia. This is the first time this type of tank has been used in combat on Russian territory.

Russia has accused the West of supporting and encouraging Ukraine to launch its first ground offensive on Russian territory. However, Russia insists that Ukraine's offensive will not change the course of the conflict.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-noi-ukraine-su-dung-ten-lua-phuong-tay-o-kursk-post308128.html