Photo: Main Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that due to the active actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Hlushkiv district of Kursk region, Russia was unable to deploy a significant group of troops to Donetsk region. In April 2025, about 60,000 Russian troops, including two air assault divisions, air assault brigades and marine brigades, were tasked with moving to the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions to intensify the offensive. However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces disrupted this operation, preventing the enemy from replenishing the strike groups.
Pre-emptive actions on Russian territory
General Syrsky said that one of the Russian brigades that was already moving towards Pokrovske had to turn back. At present, about 10,000 Russian army soldiers are engaged in combat directly in the Hlushkivsky district, on Russian territory. According to the commander-in-chief, the Ukrainian army controls approximately 90 square kilometres of this border area.
“Our pre-emptive actions in the Hlushkiv district clearly demonstrate the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to operate on the enemy’s runway and stop enemy plans before they are implemented,” Syrskyi stressed.
The value of the operation
Control over 90 km² in Hlushkiv opens up opportunities for the Ukrainian Armed Forces not only to integrate defence and detect enemy forces, but also to deter further sudden manoeuvres by Russia in the Kursk direction. The appearance of Ukrainian units on Russian territory is an important element of the overall strategy of frontline deterrence.
