Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed Ukraine’s significant incursion into Russian territory, the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to expel Ukraine from Russian lands during a meeting with defense and security officials.
“The primary mission for the Ministry of Defense is to push out, drive the enemy from our territories, and, alongside the border service, ensure the secure protection of our state border,” Putin stated.
Putin also appeared to accuse Ukraine of committing war crimes, alleging that the Ukrainian forces were carrying out “indiscriminate strikes on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and nuclear facilities.”
Ukraine currently controls approximately 1,000 square kilometers in the Kursk region, according to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who shared the information on Telegram. The incursion, which began last week, was first acknowledged by President Zelenskyy during a Saturday night address.
In his nightly social media update, Zelenskyy acknowledged military efforts to “push the war onto the aggressor’s territory.” He also mentioned plans to develop a “humanitarian plan” for the region, where around 76,000 residents have been evacuated since the fighting started.
The incursion seems to have taken Moscow by surprise, with Russian military leaders urgently working to contain the advancing Ukrainian forces.
Although Ukrainian military officials have not disclosed the exact objectives of the operation, military experts suggest that the goal may be to divert Russian reserves from the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the incursion was carried out “solely to intimidate the peaceful population of Russia.”
