Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that the military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent further attacks from Moscow. This operation, launched on August 6, is the largest attack on Russia since World War II and has taken the Kremlin by surprise. Ukrainian forces have advanced deep into the region, facing little resistance and capturing hundreds of prisoners, including many young conscripts.
Zelenskiy stated that the primary goal of the operation is to destroy Russian war potential and conduct counteroffensive actions. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian forces had advanced through 800 sq km over the initial six days of the operation and made rapid advances despite facing Russian reinforcements.
The Ukrainian air force has targeted key bridges in the Kursk region to disrupt Moscow’s supply routes. The capture of Russian prisoners of war and the destruction of infrastructure have also been reported. This military activity has led to chaos and panic, with tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the area.
Russia denied claims that Ukraine’s attack on Kursk had derailed talks with Kyiv on a potential ceasefire agreement. Earlier in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin had justified Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region as a response to Ukrainian shelling and aimed at creating a security zone.
The situation in the region remains tense as Ukraine continues its military operations in Kursk, with the ultimate goal of creating a buffer zone to protect against future attacks.
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