Russian parliament member Mikhail Sheremet made the chilling statement following an escalation of the war offensive along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian soldiers ride a tank in the Sumy region near the Russian border amid a Russian offensive into Ukraine on August 15, 2024. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Latinsky
He warned that the Western-backed invasion of Ukrainian forces into Russia's Kursk region has brought the world closer to a possible World War III. Sheremet, a member of Russia's Defence Council, argues that the attack on Russian territory, involving Western military equipment and foreign involvement, marks a disastrous escalation that could lead to a global conflict.
Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia and expressed confidence that Moscow would win the “holy war for peace and justice.”
Russia claims the world is on the brink of World War III
“Given the presence of Western military equipment, the use of Western munitions and missiles in attacks on civilian infrastructure, as well as irrefutable evidence of foreign involvement in attacks on Russian territory, one can come to the conclusion that the world is on the brink of World War III,” RIA Novosti quoted Deputy Head of State Mikhail Sheremet as saying.
The invasion, which began on August 6, saw Ukrainian forces make major advances, driving deep into Russian territory and forcing the displacement of more than 200,000 residents.
Sheremet's comments, reported by Russia's RIA news agency, reflect growing concern in Moscow that the conflict is no longer a regional issue but risks escalating into a global catastrophe, given that Ukraine is backed by Western countries, led by the United States. Sheremet pointed to the presence of Western military equipment, the use of Western-made munitions and missiles in attacks on civilian infrastructure, and “irrefutable evidence” of foreign involvement in attacks on Russian territory as proof the world is approaching all-out war.
Russia blames NATO and Western intelligence for invading Ukraine
The gravity of the situation was also underscored by Putin's top aide Nikolai Patrushev, who in an interview with Izvestia accused NATO and Western intelligence agencies of planning the invasion. No concrete evidence was presented to back up these claims, but the comments highlight the growing paranoia within the Kremlin and its efforts to frame the conflict as a broader confrontation with the West.
Rising tensions in the Kursk region
The incursion was the largest foreign attack on Russian territory since World War II, with Ukrainian forces claiming control of more than 1,150 square kilometres of land, including the strategic city of Suzha, and 82 settlements. The offensive marked a major change in the dynamics of the conflict, breaking months of retreat for Ukrainian forces and demonstrating Kiev's ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
To counter these advances, Moscow has stepped up its defenses, particularly in the neighboring Belgorod region, and announced it had recaptured at least one village in the Kursk region. The sudden escalation of fighting has led to widespread displacement, with more than 120,000 Russians fleeing the border area.
