Key points
- Ukraine 'rapidly advancing' in Kursk|Russia declares federal emergency in region
- Michael Clarke analysis:Clear that 'big' incursion is much more than a raid
- At least four people killed in Russian attack on Donetsk supermarket
- Another Russian region hit by 'massive' drone attack
- Ukraine information security watertight
- Ivor Bennett analysis:Ukraine could be playing for greater negotiating position
- Live reporting byMichael Drummond
Analysis: Clear that 'big' incursion is much more than a raid
Ukraine's incursion into Russia is "big" and represents much more than just a raid, our security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke says.
"It began at dawn on Tuesday, and it looked like one of these freedom for Russia legion attacks," he says, referencing previous incursions by anti-Kremlin groups (not Ukraine itself).
"It looked like one of those attacks - a sort of pinprick attack - to embarrass the Russians and cause a bit of a problem," he adds.
As time has gone on, however, it has become clear that Kyiv could reinforce the area, after significant early gains.
"It looks as if the Ukrainians obviously decided to back this up... and within about 48 hours they were backing it up with apparently some quite big units," he adds, noting reports that American and German-supplied tanks and armoured vehicles have been on the ground.
Sky News is seeking to clarify whether any British military equipment has been used in the attack.
"They (Ukraine) look as if they've taken over at least a dozen settlements," he says.
"They've pushed in towards Sudzha, which is a logistical hub, and they've been fanning out, northeast and southeast from there," he adds.
Sudzha is the last operational trans-shipping point for Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine.
"They're miles deep into Russia... and that's big - that's not just a raid," Professor Clarke concludes.
As for Russia's response, he's not been impressed.
"The Russians thought they could deal with it with a few of their reserve battalions," he says, adding "that's not happening".
If they want to push the Ukrainians back, "they're going to have to commit more [resource]" to Kursk.
Key location: Sudzha, Kursk region of Russia
While the full extent of Ukraine's incursion into Russia remains unclear, the town ofSudzha has been a focus over the last few days.
Located around 10.5km (6.5 miles) from the border with Ukraine, it is around 100km from the regional capital, the city of Kursk.
Sudzha had been home to around 5,000 people and is the site an important gas transportation hub.
But after Ukrainian forces broke across the border on Tuesday in ashock counter-offensive, it is no longer certain that Sudzha is under Russian control.
Ukrainian troops that have crossed the border - and its thought there could be several thousand - have been reportedly expanding the areas under their control.
In pictures: Firefighters at site of deadly Russian attack on supermarket
Search and rescue crews continue to dig through the rubble of a supermarket in Donetsk region where a Russian strike killed at least 10 people.
Firefighters were seen working in the ruins inKostiantynivka this afternoon.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, adding: "Russia will be held accountable for this terror, and we will do everything to ensure that the world continues to stand with Ukraine, supporting our defence and saving the lives of our people."
'Operation Liquidation': Kursk in the headlines inside Russia
"Operation Liquidation" reads the headline in one opinion piece on the incursion inside Russia.
But it's not a reference to Ukraine's offensive. It's a prediction of what will be unleashed on Russia's enemy in return.
Elsewhere, it's more of the same - a focus on Ukrainian losses and supposed Russian resistance.
There's no mention of the fact that, for the first time since this war began, Ukrainian forces have taken control of some of its territory.
Read more from our Moscow correspondentIvor Bennettbelow...
UK announces sanctions on anniversary of 'deeply flawed' Belarus elections
The UK has sanctioned four people and three entities from Belarus.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said civil society and free press have been "almost eliminated" in Belarus.
"Today's sanctions target those involved in human rights violations & the regime's assistance to Russia's illegal war in Ukraine," he said.
The Foreign Office added that today marks four since since the "deeply flawed presidential election and start of the crackdown on civil society".
It also announced £2.5m of planned funding to support the survival of Belarusian human rights and civil society causes in the face of continued political pressure.
For context: The 2020 presidential elections in Belarus saw President Alexander Lukashenko re-elected based on official results.
However it was widely reported the elections were not free or fair and they were likely to have been rigged in Mr Lukashenko's favour.
The result led to protests and civil unrest in the country as well as allegations of human rights abuses by the government.
At least ten killed in supermarket attack - report
The number of people killed in an attack on a supermarket in Donetsk region has risen to 10, it is being reported.
Russia has been accused of shelling the city ofKostiantynivka with artillery today - possibly in retaliation for the unfolding situation across the border in Kursk.
Images from the scene in Kostiantynivka show thick black smoke pouring into the air.
Earlier it was reported that four people had killed, but the Kyiv Independent is now reporting the death toll has risen to 10, citing Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
At least 35 people are believed to have been injured.
Earlier today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said search and rescue operations were ongoing as people remained trapped under the rubble.
Russia transfers extra forces to Kursk region
Moscow has begun transferring extra forces to the Kursk region in response to Ukraine's major incursion, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Columns with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery and tanks are currently heading into the area.
A federal state of emergency has been declared in the Kursk region, which border's Ukraine's Sumy region.
Russian forces have been battling Ukrainian troops for three days after Kyiv's troops entered the border.
It's thought about 1,000 Ukrainian troops went through the border in the early hours of Tuesday with tanks and armoured vehicles, supported by drones and artillery.
1,000 Russian casualties in last 24 hours, Ukraine claims
Ukraine remains tight-lipped about its forces advancing into Russian territory, but the latest figures released by its defence ministry are notable.
In the last 24 hours, Kyiv claims there have been more than 1,000 Russian casualties - similar to previous days.
It comes at a time when Russian forces have continued to launch offensives along the frontline at heavy cost, while there is also the developing situation in Kursk.
Russia similarly says it is inflicting heavy casualties on Ukrainian forces.
US not concerned that Kursk incursion will escalate tensions with Russia
The Pentagon says it does not consider the Kursk incursion to be escalatory.
Answering questions from reporters yesterday, deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh saidUkraine is going to do "everything it can to continue to take back its sovereign territory".
She was asked specifically if the Pentagon is concerned that Russia will escalate tensions over the attack, including with the US.
She replied: "No, because at the end of the day, Ukraine is fighting for its sovereign territory that its neighbour invaded.
"So, if we want to de-escalate tensions, as we've said from the beginning, the best way to do that is Putin can make that decision today to withdraw troops from Ukraine."
She continued: "We don't feel like this is escalatory in any way. Ukraine is doing what it needs to do to be successful on the battlefield."
The US has denied having any advanced knowledge of the incursion into Kursk.
Russia says its forces 'continue to repel' Ukrainian incursion
Russia's defence ministry says its troops "continue to repel" Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region.
A Russian official also said that fighting is ongoing "several dozen kilometres" from Kurchatov, where a nuclear power plant is located.
The claim was made bylocal official IgorKorpunkov in a Telegram post today.
The picture of what is happening remains unclear, and it is not possible to verify the Kremlin's claims.
It comes as Russia's emergency ministry declared a federal state of emergency in the Kursk region.
On the issue of the Kursk nuclear plant, the International AtomicEnergy Agency (IAEA) said it is aware of developments and is monitoring the situation, Russian media reported.
