Ukraine-Russia latest: Massive offensive on Kursk leaves Putin struggling as he calls in reserve troops

Vladimir Putin has been forced to call in reserve troops as a federal level emergency was declared in Russia over the Ukrainian incursion across the border into Kursk.

With the incursion entering its fourth day, dealing a powerful blow to morale in Moscow and among Russia’s forces, Volodymyr Zelensky praised his army’s ability “to surprise” and “achieve results” while not directly mentioning the raid by name.

Around 1,000 Ukrainian troops in tanks and armoured vehicles broke through the Russian border and into the Kursk region in the early hours of Tuesday, with US-based analysts suggesting they had penetrated more than six miles into Russia, breaking through two defensive lines and a stronghold.

Russia declared a state of emergency amid the fierce fighting, despite seeking to claim that the situation was under control. Russian state media said 3,000 people were evacuated from the area.

Overnight, Ukraine claimed to have hit a Russian military airfield in the Lipetsk region – more than 100 miles into Russia – causing a large fire and damaging guided bomb stockpiles at an airfield housing Su-34, Su-35 and MiG-31 warplanes.