Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has confirmed that Ukraine has launched an offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first official acknowledgment of the incursion. The operation, which Zelenskiy described as a move to “restore justice,” represents Ukraine’s most significant attack on Russian soil since the war began.
Intense Battles Rage in Kursk as Ukraine Advances
Russian forces have been engaged in fierce battles for six days against Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, which has left southwestern parts of Russia exposed before reinforcements began to arrive. The surprise offensive has prompted Russian authorities to evacuate residents and implement heightened security measures across three border regions. Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, has also increased its troop presence along its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating its airspace.
In his nightly address, Zelenskiy stated that he had reviewed the operation with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasizing the need to push the conflict back onto Russian territory in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and is ensuring the exact kind of pressure that is needed—pressure on the aggressor,” Zelenskiy said.
Russian Forces Face Challenges in Kursk
Russia’s defense ministry reported the destruction of 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles over the Kursk region, along with 18 drones over other areas frequently targeted by Ukraine. Despite these efforts, Russian forces have struggled to repel the Ukrainian incursion, with Russian military bloggers indicating that the situation has stabilized only after reinforcements were deployed. However, they also noted that Ukraine is rapidly building up its forces in the region.
Zelenskiy justified the offensive, citing nearly 2,000 cross-border strikes by Russia on Ukraine’s Sumy region from Kursk this summer. “Each such strike deserves a fair response,” he asserted.
Civilians Affected as Conflict Escalates
Amid the ongoing conflict, Kursk officials reported that 13 people were injured when debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile struck a residential building in the city. Images showed flames rising from the damaged structure, though the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
Russian authorities have accelerated the evacuation of civilians from areas at risk, with over 76,000 people reportedly evacuated as of Saturday. Both Kyiv and Moscow deny targeting civilians in their attacks, despite the war’s devastating toll, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of Ukrainians.
As fighting continues, Zelenskiy has called on Western partners to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory. He argued that unlimited long-range capabilities would help bring the conflict to an end. Meanwhile, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has appealed to the United Nations, urging it to condemn Ukraine’s actions in Kursk and to prevent further violations of human rights.