A Ukrainian military member stands next to the first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon sent to Ukraine on August 4, 2024. Ukrainian pilots have started flying the US-made F-16 fighter jets for operations. Photo: VCG

As Russia continues to fight back against the offensive on its territory by Ukraine, a Russian parliamentary deputy said on Friday that Kiev's attack may lead to the conclusion that "the world is on the brink of a third world war," media reported. Experts said that the situation on the battlefield is now more complicated, warning of the potential for the conflict to spill over and become more brutal.

According to Reuters, Russian parliamentary deputy Mikhail Sheremet said on Friday that the Ukrainian incursion has brought the world "close to an all-out global war."

Ukraine's top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday that Kiev had set up a military commandant's office in the occupied part of Kursk region where he said his forces were still advancing, per another Reuters report.

TASS reported on Thursday that the Russian Defense Ministry said it established a coordination council on issues of military security in border areas. The council is responsible for handling the military security issues covering Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions.

The direct invasion of Russian territory by Ukraine is considered a significant action for both sides, as it is a major military arrangement by Kiev. It is also a shock for Moscow, as it involves the safety of local civilians, Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

Yang noted that the current situation on the battlefield is becoming increasingly intricate, raising concerns about the potential for more severe armed conflict between both sides in the later stage.

According to Yang, Ukraine's offensive may be aimed at alleviating pressure on the front lines in other directions and to gain more leverage in negotiations with Russia.

Cui Heng, a research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Friday that the Kursk attack is expected to have a significant impact on possible negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Russia may strengthen its actions in the coming time to respond to the strike on Kursk, Cui said.

Amid the continuous instigation by the US, the prospects for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis have become more complex, analysts said. The likelihood of the conflict escalating, spreading, or becoming more brutal is on the rise, Yang said.

When asked about Ukrainian troops launching an offensive into the Russian territory of Kursk, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. The Chinese side calls on all parties to observe the three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fueling the flames by any party. 

"We will continue to maintain communication with the international community to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis," the spokesperson added.