Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly acknowledged for the first time that his troops are active in Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces continue to carry out operations on enemy territory and will “return war to where it came from.”
The president mentioned that the main objective is to protect Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv border regions and alleviate pressure on other parts of the front line, particularly in Donetsk region. This comes after Russia reported Ukrainian attempts to cross into Belgorod last month, which were allegedly rebuffed.
Ukraine still holds a small area in Russia’s Kursk region, where Moscow has retaken most territory. Zelensky’s comments also come amid reports of Russian missile attacks, including a deadly strike on his home city that killed 20 people, including nine children.
The Kremlin rejects US allegations that it is dragging its feet on a ceasefire, with President Donald Trump expressing frustration over Russia’s actions. Zelensky thanked Ukrainian army units defending the country, praising their efforts in the Belgorod region. However, details about these operations remain unclear.
Analysts believe 12km2 of the Belgorod region remains under Ukrainian control, while 60km2 in Kursk is still held by Ukraine. The operation in Belgorod appears to be on a smaller scale than Ukraine’s actions in Kursk, where Kyiv seized several villages and forced Moscow to redeploy troops.
The move has raised questions about the military efficacy of Ukraine’s operations on Russian soil, citing high combat casualties and supply difficulties.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy7dv6zk36o