Zelensky explains the meaning of the Kursk offensive
For five days now, the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region of Kursk has been underway. Initially, the government in Kyiv did not comment on the advance. Only now, President Zelenskyy speaks publicly about it - and names a goal that Ukraine is pursuing.
Five days after the start of the Ukrainian advance into Russian territory in Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken out about the attack for the first time. He said that Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi had reported to him about "the shift of the war into the territory of the aggressor," in his evening video address. Ukraine is proving "that it is truly capable of delivering justice and building up exactly the pressure needed - pressure on the aggressor."
Neither Zelenskyy nor the military in Kyiv provided further details about the current status of the Ukrainian troops' advance into Russian territory. In recent days, Zelenskyy had only made indirect references to the attack towards Kursk.
Tens of thousands of Russians have already been evacuated due to the fighting in the border area. Around 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the border area and accommodated in other regions of Russia, the Russian civil defense agency reported, according to the TASS state news agency.
Advanced up to 35 kilometers
Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence reported that Russia has begun moving a Marine infantry brigade from the occupied Crimean Peninsula to the Kursk region. A part of the vehicle convoy was already destroyed during the approach. These reports could not be independently verified.
The entire Kursk region was put on rocket alert. The governor, Alexei Smirnov, warned on the Telegram platform about the possible dangers and urged the population to seek shelter as much as possible.
The Ukrainian offensive has been ongoing for five days. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Friday that Ukrainian units had "advanced rapidly" and "penetrated up to 35 kilometers from the Russian border."
In response to the ongoing Ukrainian offensive in Kursk, Russian authorities reported the evacuation of over 76,000 civilians from the border area. President Zelenskyy, acknowledging the shift of the war into Russian territory, emphasized Ukraine's capability to deliver justice and increase pressure on the aggressor.
