Our daily voyage around the world

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Moscow claims Ukraine launched a major surprise attack in Russian territory. Russian officials say hundreds of Ukrainian troops entered Russia’s Kursk Region early Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of nearby villages and the deployment of Russian army units. However, according to the AP, it’s currently not possible to independently verify Russia’s claims. Ukraine thus far has adopted a strategy of strict silence regarding the attack, which some analysts describe as Ukraine’s biggest and most serious incursion into Russia since the war began in February 2022. US officials have also declined to comment.

🇹🇭 Thailand’s Constitutional Court disbanded the country’s most popular political party. Yesterday, the court ruled that Thailand’s Move Forward party, which won the most seats in last year’s general elections, violated the constitution by proposing to water down a law against defaming Thailand's royal family. The court barred party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, four other elected members, and nearly a dozen party operatives from politics for a decade, though Move Forward members plan to unveil a new party on Friday.

🇨🇳 A company backed by Shanghai, China, launched the first satellites for a megaconstellation to rival SpaceX's Starlink internet service. Tuesday’s successful launch of 18 satellites is part of an initiative backed by Shanghai’s government that aims to provide global satellite internet coverage by 2027. Shanghai plans to launch 108 satellites by the end of this year and deploy 14,000+ satellites by 2030, which would place it roughly on par with Starlink’s future expansion plans.