Russian MP Mikhail Sheremet has made a worrying statement in light of the increasing war offensive along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
He warned that the world is moving closer to a possible third world war due to the Western-backed Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk region. Sheremet, a member of Russia’s Defense Committee, claims that the involvement of Western military equipment and foreign troops in the attack on Russian soil represents a dire escalation that could lead to a global conflict.
Earlier on Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his commitment to deepening cooperation with Russia and expressed his confidence that Moscow would be victorious in its “holy war for peace and justice.”
“The world is on the brink of a third world war,” Russia claims
“Given the presence of Western military equipment, the use of Western ammunition and missiles in attacks on civilian infrastructure and irrefutable evidence of the involvement of foreigners in the attacks on Russian territory, one could conclude that the world is on the brink of World War III,” RIA quoted MP Mikhail Sheremet as saying.
During this incursion, which began on August 6, Ukrainian forces made significant advances, penetrating deep into Russian territory and forcing the evacuation of over 200,000 people.
Sheremet’s comments, carried by Russian news agency RIA, reflect growing fears in Moscow that the conflict is no longer a regional problem but could escalate into a global catastrophe, as Ukraine is backed by Western countries led by the United States. Sheremet’s comments pointed to the presence of Western military equipment, the use of Western munitions and missiles in attacks on civilian infrastructure, and what he called “irrefutable evidence” of foreign involvement in the attack on Russian soil as evidence that the world is moving ever closer to all-out war.
Russia accuses NATO and Western intelligence services of invading Ukraine
Nikolai Patrushev, a close aide to President Vladimir Putin, also underscored the seriousness of the situation in an interview with the newspaper Izvestia, accusing NATO and Western intelligence services of orchestrating the attack. While no concrete evidence has been provided to support these allegations, the rhetoric underscores the Kremlin’s growing paranoia and its efforts to portray the conflict as a broader confrontation with the West.
The increasing escalation in the Kursk region
The incursion is the largest foreign attack on Russian territory since World War II. Ukrainian forces claim to have seized control of more than 1,150 square kilometers and 82 settlements, including the strategically important town of Sudzha. The offensive marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict, ending months of setbacks for the Ukrainian military and demonstrating Kyiv’s ability to advance deep into Russian territory.
In response to these advances, Moscow strengthened its defenses, especially in the neighboring Belgorod region, and announced the recapture of at least one village in the Kursk region. The sudden intensity of the fighting led to large-scale displacement. More than 120,000 Russians were evacuated from the border areas.
