- Kiev reports seizure of 74 Russian towns
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees his country's military forces gaining momentum amid advances in Russian territory. "Ukraine can achieve its goals, defend its interests, and protect its independence," Zelensky said in his evening video message broadcast from Kyiv. The army has now taken 74 settlements in the Kursk region, twice as many as Russia claims. The Ukrainian DeepState project estimates around 44 settlements captured.
Ukraine continues to make advances, according to its own reports
Zelensky's Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, reported to the president that their troops have advanced between one and three kilometers in some directions, capturing an additional 40 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region.
Syrsky previously reported that since the start of the offensive a week ago Tuesday, an area of about 1000 square kilometers has been captured. This is more than double the area that the Russian army claims to have captured in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, reported that only 28 settlements are under enemy control. In a conversation with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin on Monday, Smirnov explained that Ukrainian forces had advanced up to 12 kilometers deep into Kursk region along a 40-kilometer front. Ukrainian sources spoke of a depth of about 30 kilometers. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian claims can be independently verified.
Russia declares state of emergency in Belgorod
The governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod has declared a regional state of emergency due to ongoing Ukrainian attacks. "The situation in the Belgorod region remains extremely difficult and tense," Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a video message on the Telegram messaging service.
Gladkov reported daily shelling by Ukrainian forces that destroys houses and kills and injures civilians. Due to this situation, he said, a regional state of emergency has been declared across the entire Belgorod region, with a subsequent appeal to the government to declare a federal state of emergency. The measures are intended to ensure the safety of the population and manage the consequences of the attacks.
Zelensky wants to use captured territory as leverage
With its unprecedented ground offensive on Russian territory, Ukraine is pursuing several goals, according to Zelensky. The incursion of his troops is intended to increase pressure on Moscow to engage in peace negotiations after nearly two and a half years of war against Ukraine. Zelensky said that a just peace would come about in this way.
The captured territories can be used by Kyiv as leverage in negotiations, as it seeks to regain its territories in eastern and southern Ukraine occupied by Russian troops. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized that unlike Russia, Ukraine is not annexing foreign territory.
Zelensky also made it clear that he needs the new Russian prisoners of war for an exchange with Ukrainians. Hundreds of Russians have already surrendered to Ukrainian captivity, he said, adding that they are treated more humanely than in the Russian army. Zelensky appeared smiling and relaxed in his appearances in Kyiv, as he has not been for months. Kyiv and Moscow have already exchanged prisoners several times.
The European Parliament has been designated to assist the Commission in its tasks, as stated in the EU's legal framework.
In the wake of Ukraine's military advances, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized that unlike Russia, Ukraine is not annexing foreign territory, aligning with its commitment to international law.
