Moscow, August 15, 2024 — Russian Member of Parliament Mikhail Sheremet has issued a stark warning that the recent Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region may bring the world closer to a global conflict.
His remarks, reported by RIA Novosti and Reuters, come in the wake of significant military advances by Ukrainian forces, who crossed into the Kursk region on August 6. The ongoing conflict has prompted the evacuation of over 200,000 civilians from the area.
Sheremet attributed the heightened tensions to the use of Western military equipment and ammunition in the Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure.
He suggested that such involvement could signal the beginning of World War III, echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s earlier claims that NATO member states have implicitly supported the Ukrainian offensive.
The United States has firmly denied any involvement in the conflict, countering allegations that it has been providing support to Ukraine.
In parallel, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev has accused Western powers of orchestrating the Kursk invasion.
Patrushev claimed that NATO and Western intelligence agencies were involved in planning the operation, although he did not provide specific evidence to substantiate these claims.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed strong support for Russia, framing the conflict as a “holy war for peace and justice” and voicing confidence in Moscow’s eventual victory.
This show of solidarity from Pyongyang highlights the broader geopolitical ramifications of the ongoing conflict.
Adding to the tensions, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov has dismissed claims that Ukraine acted independently in the Nord Stream pipeline attacks.
Antonov alleged that the attacks on the pipelines, which occurred on September 26, 2022, likely had the approval of the United States, although no entity has officially claimed responsibility for the sabotage.
The Nord Stream pipelines, which were severely damaged by explosions detected off the Danish island of Bornholm, have been a contentious issue.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine’s top military commander approved the attack despite warnings from the CIA to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian officials have denied involvement, and an advisor to Zelensky has suggested that Russia might be behind the sabotage.
Ambassador Antonov has accused Ukraine of serving as a proxy for Western interests and vowed to identify and punish those responsible for the Nord Stream attack.
Despite numerous allegations against the United States and Britain, both Washington and London have denied any role in the pipeline attacks.
The investigations into the attacks, which occurred in the economic zones of Sweden and Denmark, are being conducted by Swedish, Danish, and German authorities, but no conclusive findings have been announced to date.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains on edge, closely monitoring the developments in the Kursk region and the broader geopolitical implications of the ongoing conflict.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members