Ukraine Pierces Russian Border Triggering Major Battles

MOSCOW—Russia said on Wednesday that it was fighting intense battles against Ukrainian forces which had penetrated Russia’s Kursk region in one of the largest incursions into Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Russia has advanced this year after the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive to achieve any major gains, and has taken 420 square kilometres (162 square miles) of territory from Ukrainian forces since June 14, Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia’s security council, has said. Ukraine struck back on Tuesday—and the battles continued through the night into Wednesday as Ukrainian forces pushed to the north west of the border town of Sudzha, 530 km (330 miles) southwest of Moscow, Russia’s defence ministry said....