MOSCOW/KYIV - Ukrainian troops launched their first strike using Western-made missiles on civilian targets in Russia's Kursk region Friday, said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

"Notably, this is the first time that civilian objects in the Kursk region have been struck by Western-made rockets, likely American HIMARS," Zakharova said.

She said a bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovsky district of Kursk was destroyed and "volunteers helping civilians were killed in the strike".

She said all those responsible for such acts will face severe punishment from Russia.  

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region is linked to possible peace talks between the two countries.

"In the Kursk region, we can clearly see how the military tool is being used objectively to persuade the Russian Federation to enter a fair negotiation process," Podolyak said Friday on social media X, formerly Twitter.

Ukraine is not interested in occupying Russian territories, he said.

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Ukraine's military actions in the Kursk region may influence public opinion in Russia regarding the conflict, Podolyak said.

"Negative changes in the psychological state of the Russian population will be another argument for the start of negotiations," he added.

Ukraine started a military operation in the Kursk region on Aug 6.

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Ukraine's attacks on Russia's border will receive a "worthy response", with the Russian military's primary task being to remove the Ukrainian forces from Russian territories, President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week.

On Aug 15, Oleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that Ukraine had taken control of 82 settlements in the conflict-hit region.