Russian President Vladimir Putin says Kyiv has attempted another "major provocation" by penetrating the border into western Russia.

The Russian defense ministry announced on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had crossed into and attacked the western Russian region of Kursk.

Russian media quoted authorities as saying five civilians were killed and 24 others injured.

Putin criticized Ukraine in a meeting with members of the government on Wednesday and instructed agencies to provide assistance to people in the region.

He later held a separate meeting with senior defense and security officials including Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and the Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.

Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said in the meeting that about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers launched the attack aiming to take control of part of Kursk. Gerasimov went on to say that Russian forces have prevented the Ukrainian troops from advancing but were still fighting to push them back.

The Ukrainian military has not issued a comment on the attack.

Ukrainian forces have made attempts before to attack border villages in the western Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk.