Kiev wants to create a "buffer zone" with Kursk offensive
Ukrainian troops are making progress in the Russian region of Kursk. The objective of the offensive remains unclear for a long time. President Zelensky initially speaks of putting pressure on the Kremlin to lead to genuine peace talks. His interior minister goes even further.
The Ukrainian army, in its offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk, aims to establish a "buffer zone" to protect its population, according to its own statements. "The establishment of a buffer zone in the Kursk region is a step to protect our population at the border from daily enemy fire," Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said on Telegram.
Kyiv also announced plans to create a humanitarian corridor in the region. "Our forces are preparing to open a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians, both towards Russia and towards Ukraine," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk also said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian army began its advance in the Kursk border region on August 6 and has since recorded some territorial gains. Currently, between 800 and 1000 square kilometers of the region are under Ukrainian control, according to Russian sources. The Ukrainian military claims to have captured 74 settlements, while Russian sources report 28. Between 120,000 and 200,000 Russians have fled or been evacuated from the area. The region of Kursk has a population of over 1.1 million, with around 440,000 living in the main city of Kursk.
Ukrainian leadership has previously stated that it does not seek to annex the captured territories. Ukrainian attacks would cease if Russia agrees to a "just peace." Kyiv also hopes that the numerous captured Russian soldiers will give it a strong position in a potential future prisoner exchange for Ukrainian POWs.
Although the ground offensive of Ukrainian troops is currently limited to the Russian region of Kursk, the neighboring region of Belgorod has also declared a state of emergency. The situation in the region remains quite difficult and tense, Governor Vyaсheslav Gladkov said. In the Kursk region, a state of emergency of national significance has been declared. Ukrainian soldiers are currently advancing in Kursk both to the north and south. In the south, troops are just a few kilometers from the border with the Belgorod region.
The Belgorod region has been attacked from the air by Ukrainian troops for some time. Belgorod, Kursk, and other Russian regions reported renewed drone and rocket attacks from the Ukrainian side. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported 117 intercepted drone attacks and 4 destroyed tactical missiles. Russian military airfields were also reportedly attacked.
Last year, so-called volunteer battalions, including Russians fighting on the Ukrainian side, were temporarily deployed there. Last week, Ukrainian soldiers briefly stayed in the village of Poros in the Belgorod region, which borders the Kursk region, and recorded a video with a flag.
The Ukrainian military has been reported to utilize drones in their operations against Russian targets in the Belgorod region, as indicated by the Russian Ministry of Defense's report of 117 intercepted drone attacks and 4 destroyed tactical missiles.
In response to the escalating drone attacks, the Belgorod region has strengthened its air defense systems to protect its vital infrastructure.
