Ukraine's surprise offensive against Russia: Major developments and consequences

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine had launched an incursion into Russian territory to "restore justice" and pressure Moscow's forces, in his first acknowledgment of Kyiv's surprise offensive into the western Kursk region. (Photo: AP)

Several Ukrainian brigades are said to be involved in the operation, according to sources. Kyiv caught Russia off guard by striking at a lightly defended sector of the front and broke through limited border defences. (Photo: Reuters)

The incursion, which has caused more than 100,000 civilians to flee and embarrassed the Kremlin, is an attempt by Kyiv to halt Moscow's offensive in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region and gain leverage in potential future peace talks. (AP)

The Ukrainian army has captured several border villages, involving 28 different settlements, prompting the evacuation of 11,000 people from Russia's Belgorod region. (Photo: AP)

Acting Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov said 12 civilians have been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, have been wounded in the operation. (Photo: Reuters)

The combat inside Russia rekindled questions about whether Ukraine was using weaponry supplied by NATO members and other Western countries. (Photo: Reuters)

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals - especially whether Kyiv's forces aim to hold territory or are staging hit-and-run raids - remain unclear. (Photo: Reuters)

The scale of the incursion became clearer on Monday when Putin held a meeting with local officials from the border regions as well as some of Russia’s top security, government and law enforcement personnel. (Photo: AP)