Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the nation was “getting stronger” in the Kursk region and that the military incursion into the area was aimed at creating a buffer zone to prevent future attacks by Russia.
“And this goes beyond just the defense of Ukraine. Our main task in the entire defensive operation is now to destroy as much of Russia’s war-fighting capabilities as possible and to take maximum counter-offensive action,” he said. Sunday Video Speech“This includes establishing a buffer zone in the aggressor’s territory, namely our operations in the Kursk region.”
The remarks were the first time that the Ukrainian president had clearly stated the objectives of the operation, which began on August 6 with a surprise attack by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia. Troops have been advancing for weeks, creating a state of emergency in the area bordering Sumy province in northeastern Ukraine.
In a separate video address on Saturday, Zelenskiy said the operation in the Kursk region was “unfolding exactly as we expected.”
“The courage of the Ukrainian people is achieving great things. Now we are strengthening our positions. The foothold of our presence is becoming stronger,” he said. Translated from his office.
The comments came after Ukraine destroyed a major bridge over the weekend and attacked a second nearby bridge on Sunday, Ukrainian Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Mykola Oreshchuk and Russian regional governor Alexei Smirnov confirmed, according to the Associated Press.
Pro-Russian military bloggers said the destruction of the first bridge over the Seym River near the city of Grushkovo would disrupt supplies to Russian troops, according to the Associated Press.
President Zelensky touted those gains on Sunday.
“Any damage to the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian state, the Russian military-industrial complex and the Russian economy will prevent the escalation of the war and bring us closer to a just end to this aggression, that is, a just peace in Ukraine,” he added.
President Zelensky said last week that Ukraine had captured Suzha, the main city in the Kursk region, and had begun setting up a command office there.
Russia has struggled to stop the Ukrainian military advance, despite President Vladimir Putin convening a security council and ordering border patrols and the army to repel the attacks.
Putin called the incursion a “serious provocation,” stoking fears that the Kremlin could escalate war against Ukraine or with the United States, Kiev’s main backer.
