Zelensky made a statement about the “operation” in Belgorod region
19 March 06:58
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on the Russian Defense Ministry’s announcement that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have entered the territory of Belgorod Oblast. Zelensky said this at an online press conference, Komersant ukrainskyi reports
In particular, when asked whether Ukraine was conducting operations in the Belgorod region, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry the day before, the president said that Ukraine has the right to take proactive steps to avoid Russian strikes.
The head of state evaded a direct answer to the question of whether Ukrainian troops had entered the territory of Belgorod region.
“There is an operation there: some people think that someone ran away, but somewhere else they entered. These are absolutely clear strategic steps we are taking as long as the enemy is on our territory. We have seen a new accumulation of troops on the border of Sumy region. We see what they want to do, they want to attack Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. This is what we see. We will not allow this to happen so easily,” the president said.
According to the President, defense operations on Russian territory are necessary to protect Ukrainian lands.
The Head of State added that Ukrainian troops are controlling the situation in Kursk region.
“Ukraine is fulfilling its task in the Kursk region, the Ukrainian military are there. And they will stay there as long as we need this operation. We have reinforced ourselves in the east of our country. But after Putin says that our guys are surrounded: our guys are standing there, showing that they are not surrounded. It is not Putin who decides when and where the guys should withdraw,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces made an attempt to “push units into Russian territory in the western part of Belgorod region in the direction of the settlements of Demidovka and Prilessye.” According to the ministry, there were allegedly five attacks during the day.
