A VLADIMIR Putin stooge has accused Britain of being behind Ukraine's daring blitz into Russia.
A huge convoy of Ukrainian tanks stormed into Russian villages this week in a major "masterstroke" cross-border offensive that left Putin's forces trembling.
Thousands of troops are still said to be holding onto the land in the Kursk region backed by tanks and armoured trucks.
Russian officials were forced to declare a state of emergency after the shock invasion - with mass civilian evacuations underway.
A senior politician with close ties to the Kremlin has now claimed the blame should lie with Britain after he accused them of instigating and aiding in the operation.
Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the State Duma Committee told Russian media: "Britain participated in all such sorties. English was heard."
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It comes as an embarrassed Putin lashed out on Wednesday as he labelled the Ukrainian revenge strike a "large scale provocation".
Russian military boss General Valery Gerasimov was forced to face the despot in a meeting and admit how a significant portion of territory in the region had been lost.
A snarling Putin raged: “As you know, the Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation.
"It is firing indiscriminately from various types of weapons, including rockets, at civilian buildings, residential houses and ambulances."
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In response to the brazen invasion Putin has reportedly deployed his notorious Wagner troops to defend a key nuke power station in Kursk as Ukraine pushes forward.
The Wagner army - including tens of thousands of jail convicts freed and pardoned by Putin - had been used in cannon fodder frontline roles fighting against Ukrainians.
Reports suggest Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops have now pushed 20 miles into Russia - marking a remarkable counter-invasion.
It leaves just eight miles to the town of Lgov - which is 17 miles from Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
It's thought Kyiv is attempting to seize or surround the key facility - and blackmail Russia into surrendering Europe's biggest nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia, which Putin has held since the start of the war.
A close Putin crony, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, blasted Ukraine for the incursion - which shocked Moscow - and demanded Russia respond by crushing Ukraine.
It was now “necessary” to “mercilessly defeat and destroy the enemy”, and stage a total invasion, he said.
The mini-invasion targeted an area where Russian defences are weak. Ukraine has embarrassed Putin and the Russian military
Philip Ingram
Former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram described the Ukrainian offensive as a "masterstroke" by Zelensky and an utter embarrassment for Vlad and his men.
Ingram said: "The mini-invasion targeted an area where Russian defences are weak. Ukraine has embarrassed Putin and the Russian military.
"They've brought the war to ordinary Russians and set the conditions for negotiations.
"It is too early to tell Ukraine's ultimate objectives, but on the surface it could be a masterstroke if they can continue the advance and hold off Russian counterattacks."
On Thursday, Ukraine bizarrely dropped leaflets inside Russia with naked women on in a bid to get Putin's troops to surrender - or risk death.
Social media users were left dumbfounded after pics of "motivational leaflets" scattered over Kursk emerged featuring a soldier and a naked woman.
The message on the bizarre nude leaflets reportedly translate to: "The wife of your brigade commander is waiting for you in the banya."
Banya is a traditional Russian steam sauna.
The odd message could be implying that as ordinary soldiers are dying for Putin, commanders and their families are enjoying themselves away from the frontline.
The other with the dead soldier on apparently says: "Soldier of the 25th brigade.
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"Choose life. Surrender."
The leaflets also give instructions on "how to surrender" as well as contact details in an attempt to make further advances into the region.
Why does Ukraine launch cross-border strikes on Russia?
By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter
Ukraine has attacked Russia itself a number of times since Russia invaded their neighbour in February 2022.
The strikes have included both ground assaults with tanks and troops, and also the use of long-range missiles.
In March, Ukraine-supporting Russian rebels from the Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL), Siberian Battalion (SB) and Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) launched a two-pronged assault.
In May last year, the Free Russia Legion attacked the country as they sought to "build a free Russia".
None of the incursions have so far been able to hold any land, with the invaders being beaten back or retreating.
Ultimately, they seek to stretch Russian forces, strike Russia in unprotected areas, and destroy critical infrastructure like logistics hubs, ammunition depots, or disrupt Russian events.