Ukraine launches surprise ground invasion of Russia Kursk Oblast

Ukraine launches a surprise cross-border ground offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast, seizing hundreds of square kilometers of Russian territory, the largest foreign military incursion into Russia since World War II. Ukraine uses U.S.-supplied Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other Western equipment in the attack. The offensive catches Russian forces off-guard and triggers a significant Russian redeployment from other fronts. Biden authorizes Ukraine to use some U.S. weapons in limited cross-border defense operations in response. The Kursk incursion becomes a major factor in Biden's later November 2024 decision to authorize deeper ATACMS strikes into Russia.