Russia Kremlin: Invitation to Red Cross to visit Kursk a provocation

Russia has warned the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross not to take part in an inspection trip to Kursk in western Russia, which is partly controlled by Ukrainian troops.

"We expect that such provocative statements will not be taken into account by those addressed," commented Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on an invitation from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to the organizations.

The Foreign Ministry in Kiev had previously stated that the Ukrainian troops were respecting human rights and doing everything possible to protect the civilian population in particular from the effects of the war in the Kursk region. Ukraine is asking the UN for help in providing these people with humanitarian aid. The International Red Cross should also join this mission, the ministry asked in the letter published on the authority's website.

Ukraine has held territory in Kursk under control since August

Ukraine has been defending itself against a war of aggression ordered by Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin for two and a half years. Russian troops have occupied around a fifth of Ukraine's territory in the conflict, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. In August, Kiev launched a surprise counter-offensive in the Kursk region, bringing the war onto Russian soil for the first time.

The Kremlin describes this advance as a provocation and an act of terrorism. As long as Ukrainian troops are on Russian soil, there can be no peace negotiations, according to Moscow.

Last week, Russian troops launched an advance for the first time to drive the Ukrainian forces out of Kursk again. However, only a limited number of Russian troops are involved in the fighting, as Moscow continues to deploy the majority of its forces to conquer Ukrainian territories, particularly in the Donbass.

SDA