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Military operation in Ukraine

Updated at:

US could have easily stopped Kiev’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region — ambassador

The Americans knew everything, and nothing happens without their knowledge Anatoly Antonov, said

MOSCOW, August 22. /TASS/.

Washington could have easily put an end to Ukraine’s actions in Russia’s borderline region of Kursk if it really wanted to, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told Channel One.

When asked whether there were reasons to believe that the US were informed about Ukraine’s plans beforehand, the diplomat said he was "firmly convinced" that Kiev seeks prior approval from the US for all of its actions.

"As we have learned from different sources, hundreds and thousands of military and paramilitary experts are advisors to [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky. If the Americans truly disapproved of what is happening in the Kursk Region right now - where civilians, children, women and the elderly are being killed - Kiev would have stopped such actions in the snap of the US finger," he said. "So my answer is clear: the Americans knew everything, <…> and nothing happens without their knowledge."

Ukrainian forces started a major attack on the Kursk Region on August 6. Missile attack warnings have been issued repeatedly in the region since then, and the government declared a federal-level emergency there. According to Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, 115,000 people have been resettled from districts near the border. In turn, acting Kursk Region Governor Alexey Smirnov said over 133,000 residents have fled borderline areas. Temporary accommodation centers for Kursk Region residents that had to leave their homes have been opened in 29 Russian regions.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine has lost more than 4,700 servicemen, 68 tanks and 53 armored personnel carriers since the start of fighting in the Kursk area. The operation to destroy Ukrainian armed groups is ongoing.

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