Zelensky confirms military incursion onto Kursk

KYIV, Aug 11(AP/AFP): Days after Ukraine began a surprise military incursion into Russia's Kursk border region, Zelensky broke the government's silence on it late Saturday by indirectly acknowledging ongoing military actions to "push the war out into the aggressor's territory" in his nightly address.

Overnight into Sunday, a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed two people including a 4-year-old boy. In Russia, Kursk's regional governor said that a Ukrainian missile shot down by Russian air defenses fell on a residential building, wounding 13 people.

Russia's army said Sunday it had halted Ukraine's advance into its western Kursk region in several places, hitting troops and equipment in areas up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border.

The defence ministry said Russian troops had "foiled attempts by enemy mobile groups with armoured vehicles to break through deep into Russian territory", including near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, 25 km and 30 km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Russia attacked Ukraine with four ballistic missiles and 57 Shahed drones, Ukraine's Air Force said. Air defenses shot down 53 drones.

Explosions rang out Saturday night in the centre and east of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, AFP journalists noted, as Ukraine's air force said two Russian missiles were headed towards the city.

Air raid sirens sounded in the capital and at least two flashes could be seen against the night sky, said an AFP reporter.

Kyiv's military administration said in a post on Telegram that the city's air defence systems had been activated. Ukraine's air force said five other regions were being attacked by drones.

There has been growing concern among many Ukrainians in recent days that Moscow might launch air raids in response to Kyiv's recent offensive inside Russian territory.

Ukrainian officials have not so far given any details on possible casualties or damage.

Ukraine has been regularly hit by deadly Russian air strikes from missiles and drones.

Kyiv has repeatedly called for its allies in the West to provide it with more air-defence systems.

On the Russian side, Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov said 13 people had been injured in Kursk city, including two seriously, when debris from a downed Ukrainian missile fell on a building during the night.