Russia's 'friends' have not condemned hostilities in Kursk Oblast, except for Syria
For more than a week, the Ukrainian operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, of the countries considered friendly to Russia, only Syria condemned it, calling it a "terrorist attack," the Russian newspaper Moscow Times reports.
It was Russian troops that helped the Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad to maintain power. Thus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry published a statement in which it said that it was "with great concern" following the news about the "terrorist attack by Ukrainian forces on Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation."
The self-proclaimed president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, commenting in particular on the events in Kursk Oblast, recently called for an end to "this fight" between Ukraine and Russia. According to him, Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians do not need it, but "[the West] does need it".
At the same time, Lukashenko said: according to the agreements, in the event of aggression against Belarus, Russia will send its troops there to provide military support.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said only that it "noticed the development" of the situation and called on Russia and Ukraine to "follow de-escalation."
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and its member countries also did not condemn the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the statement posted on the organization's website on August 16, it was noted that they were "closely monitoring the development of the situation" and promised that they would implement all necessary procedures within the established time frame in the event of Russia's request for military assistance.
What is happening in Kursk Oblast?
The first unofficial reports of a border breach in Kursk Oblast appeared on August 7. Against this background, the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, condemned a "large-scale provocation" by Ukraine.
In response, Russia announced a "counter-terrorist operation" in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk oblasts.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed the fighting in Kursk Oblast for the first time on August 12. As of August 15 1,150 m² and 82 settlements in the region are already under the control of Ukrainian fighters, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces reported. According to the Washington Post, Ukraine now controls the Sudzha gas metering station, located approximately 8 kilometers deep into Russia.
A military commandant's office has already been established in the controlled territories with Major General Eduard Moskalyov heading it.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has already launched a hotline for residents of Kursk Oblast who want to evacuate, and is also working on a possible humanitarian corridor to Sumy.