President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine has launched an incursion into Russian territory in the western Kursk region, marking Kyiv’s most significant offensive into Russian land since the war began. Zelenskiy described the operation as an effort to “restore justice” and apply pressure on Moscow’s forces.
Moscow’s troops have been engaged in intense battles for six days against this surprise Ukrainian offensive, which has exposed vulnerabilities in southwestern Russia before reinforcements began to arrive. In response, Russian authorities quickly evacuated residents and imposed strict security measures in three border regions. Meanwhile, Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, increased its troop presence on its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating its airspace.
In his nightly address, Zelenskiy shared that he had discussed the operation with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, pledging to continue pressuring the aggressor in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. “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.
Russia’s defense ministry reported that it had destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles over the Kursk region, along with 18 drones over other frequently attacked Russian regions. The ministry labeled the ground incursion as “barbaric” and questioned its military logic, stating that Ukraine has occupied only a small portion of Russian territory, while Russia controls over 100,000 square kilometers of Ukraine’s land.
Despite claims from Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov that the attacks had been halted, military bloggers noted that Ukraine is rapidly building up its forces in the region. Early on Sunday, 13 people were injured in Kursk after debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile struck a residential building. Local authorities have accelerated evacuations, with over 76,000 people reportedly evacuated from the area.
The ongoing conflict, which has killed thousands and displaced millions, shows no signs of ending. Zelenskiy has called on Ukraine’s Western allies for “strong decisions” to enable deeper strikes into Russia, arguing that “when Ukraine’s long-range capabilities have no limits, this war will definitely have a limit.” Meanwhile, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has appealed to the United Nations to condemn Ukraine’s actions in Kursk, alleging mass violations of human rights.