Ukraine strikes another blow at Russia, launching a large-scale military operation in the Kursk region. According to a high-ranking Ukrainian official, this operation is aimed at “stretching” Russian forces and destabilizing the situation in Russia itself. In an interview with AFP on Sunday, he explained that the incursion deep into Russian territory is a strategic attempt to prove that the Kremlin is unable to defend its own borders.
After months of retreat on the eastern front, Ukrainian troops on Tuesday struck Kursk Oblast, advancing more than 15 kilometers and seizing several towns, according to analysts. “The goal of this operation is to stretch the enemy’s positions, inflict maximum losses and destabilize Russia by transferring the war to its territory,” said a Ukrainian security official on condition of anonymity.
“Thousands” of Ukrainian troops participate in the invasion
The Russian military has reported that about 1,000 Ukrainian troops are participating in the operation, but a Ukrainian official emphasizes that Kyiv has involved “much more”, namely “thousands” of troops.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi confirmed the operation for the first time in his address on Saturday, noting that Kyiv seeks to “move the war to the territory of the aggressor.” In response, Russia introduced an “anti-terrorist” regime in three border regions, including Kursk.
The scale of the operation on both sides is becoming more and more obvious. Moscow announced the evacuation of more than 76,000 people from the affected areas, while Ukraine called for the evacuation of at least 20,000 civilians from the Sumy region, which borders Kursk.
Russia is preparing a “severe response”
According to Moscow, on Saturday evening, Ukrainian forces launched a rocket attack on a residential building in the city of Kursk, as a result of which 13 people were injured. In response, Russian diplomacy promised a “stern response” from the Kremlin’s armed forces.
The Ukrainian official noted that the main goal of the invasion was to ease the pressure of Russian forces on the eastern front, particularly in the Kharkiv and Donbas regions. However, according to him, so far the operation has not had a significant impact on the eastern front, although the intensity of Russian attacks has somewhat decreased.
“The attack took the Russians by surprise and significantly raised the morale of our army, state and society,” he added, noting that the operation has an important symbolic meaning.
Western Allies are in operation
Before the start of the operation, Ukraine informed its Western allies about the invasion plans. According to the official, “given the active use of Western weapons in this operation, our partners participated in its planning indirectly.”
The White House confirmed that it is in contact with Kyiv to learn more about the objectives of this operation.
Ukraine acts in accordance with international law
The Ukrainian official also emphasized that the Ukrainian troops adhere to international humanitarian law and have no intention of annexing the territories they temporarily occupied.
“We have no plans for annexation… We act strictly within the framework of international law,” he assured. “We don’t execute prisoners, we don’t rob and we don’t rape,” he concluded, rejecting any comparisons with Russian military atrocities in Ukraine.
