To start the day's other headlines in Russia. Ukraine's top military commander

says his forces now control nearly 400 square miles of Russian territory in the

region of Kursk across from Ukraine's northeastern border.

It's the first time a Ukrainian military official

has commented on the gains of last week's surprise incursion.

For their part, Russian authorities say more than 121,000 people have evacuated the area so far

and that 12 civilians have been killed in the fighting. Today Russian President Vladimir Putin

told a meeting of top officials that the attack is an attempt to give Ukraine a better negotiating position for future peace talks.

It is becoming obvious and clear now why the Kyiv regime had refused our proposals to return to a peaceful settlement plan, as well as the proposals of interested and neutral mediators.

It appears that the West is fighting us with the hands of the Ukrainians.

Ukraine's operation is the largest attack on Russian soil since the war started two and a half years ago. In Greece a

wildfire is raging on the outskirts of Athens forcing hundreds of people from the

city's northern suburbs. At last check, the blaze was about nine miles

from the city center.

It started on Sunday afternoon, sending flames

as high as 80 feet into the air.

Some 700 firefighters work today to extinguish the flames as residents fled through thick clouds of smoke.

Some, however, stayed behind to protect their homes.

The wind would go in one direction, then in the other, the smoke was suffocating.

I couldn't see.

My eyes teared up.

I couldn't breathe. I was 60 yards from the house and couldn't even see it

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