Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that Ukraine’s military operation in Russia’s Kursk region is aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow. The operation, which began on August 6, marks the largest attack on Russia by Ukraine since World War II. Ukrainian forces have driven deep into the region, facing little resistance and capturing scores of villages and hundreds of prisoners.
Zelenskiy stated that the primary task of the operation is to destroy Russian war potential and conduct counteroffensive actions. The Ukrainian forces have claimed to have advanced across 1,000 sq km of the region, although the exact territory they control is difficult to verify independently. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukraine’s operation in Kursk advanced through 800 sq km in its initial six days.
The Ukrainian air force has been targeting key bridges in the Kursk region to disrupt Russian supply routes. Ukraine has also captured over 150 Russian prisoners of war on some days, many of whom were young conscripts guarding the border.
Russia denied reports that the Ukrainian attack on Kursk had derailed talks with Kyiv on halting strikes on energy and power targets. Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated that Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in May aimed to create a buffer zone in response to Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Belgorod region.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with ongoing military operations and territorial advancements.
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