Since the start of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ operation in Kursk region, Russia has deployed 60,000 troops to Kursk from Ukrainian territories. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with NBC News, Komersant ukrainskyi
reports
The Ukrainian leader stressed that one of the goals of the operation was to force Moscow to withdraw its troops from the 600-mile-long front line in Ukraine. In particular, from the east of the country. At the same time, no major troop reduction was observed in the Pokrovske direction.
Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv plans to hold the seized Russian territories indefinitely in an attempt to force Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
“We do not need their land. We do not want to bring our Ukrainian way of life there,” the president said.
Zelenskyy explained that the invasion of Kursk region on 6 August was a “preemptive strike” to prevent Russians from creating a buffer zone along the border with Ukraine.
He added that he could not discuss whether Ukraine plans to try to seize more Russian territory.
What is happening in the Kursk region
on 6 August, the Russians announced a “breakthrough” of the border from Ukraine in the Kursk region.
Fighting has been going on for seven days in the border areas of the Kursk region. Russia has now introduced a counter-terrorism operation in three regions bordering Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the information about the invasion of the region. However, the General Staff of Ukraine has not yet commented on the situation.
According to media reports, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced 30 km into the region. Journalists also report a constant stream of armoured personnel carriers and tanks moving towards Russia.
According to AFP, thousands of Ukrainian troops are taking part in a military operation in the Kursk region of Russia.