Russia Accuses US of Involvement in Ukraine's Kursk Incursion, Escalating Tensions

On Tuesday, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed his concerns over U.S. involvement in Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region, labeling it as "an obvious fact" and accusing the U.S. of escalating tensions in the region. This was reported by TASS state news agency.

U.S. Denial and Russia's Accusations

Washington has firmly denied any prior knowledge of Ukrainian plans to invade Kursk on August 6, asserting that it had no role in the operation. However, Ryabkov's statement marks a significant shift in rhetoric from the Russian side, as he characterized the U.S. involvement as an undeniable fact rather than a mere accusation.

"Washington's escalatory path is becoming more and more challenging," Ryabkov lamented, implying that the U.S.

position was exacerbating the situation further. He accused both the U.S. and its allies in Kyiv of abandoning rationality and pursuing a course of action that lacked any semblance of reason.

Ryabkov warned of the potential for serious consequences stemming from the U.S. actions, implying that Moscow had its methods of retaliation. The Russian authorities have pointed fingers at the use of Western weaponry, including British tanks and U.S. rocket systems, in the Kursk operations, further escalating the blame game.

Western Support for Ukraine

On the other hand, Ukraine has acknowledged its usage of U.S. HIMARS missiles to destroy bridges in Kursk, lending credence to Russia's accusations of direct Western involvement in the conflict. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the alleged provision of satellite imagery and intelligence by the U.S. and Britain to Ukraine after the attack on Kursk, aimed to bolster Ukrainian surveillance of Russian troop movements.