Ukraine Claims Control Over 1,000 Square Kilometers of Russian Territory Amid Major Offensive
Ukraine’s top military commander has declared that Kyiv’s forces have seized control of 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory, marking the most significant cross-border operation since the full-scale war began two and a half years ago. Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region has been ongoing for seven days, showing no signs of slowing down.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine emphasized that Russia, having instigated conflict in other countries, is now experiencing war on its own soil. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the Ukrainian offensive as a “major provocation” and has ordered Russian forces to reclaim the territory.
The situation in the western Russian region has grown increasingly tense, with mass evacuations taking place for civilian safety. An estimated 59,000 additional residents have been instructed to evacuate. The local governor reported that Ukrainian forces have captured 28 villages, resulting in the deaths of 12 civilians. He described the ongoing situation as “difficult,” with Ukrainian troops having advanced up to 30 kilometers into Russian territory since the offensive began last Tuesday.
While the Ukrainian side reportedly feels a surge in morale, experts caution that this bold strategy could backfire. A senior British military source, speaking anonymously to the BBC, warned that the incursion might provoke a stronger retaliatory response from Moscow, potentially leading to increased attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
President Putin, in remarks broadcast on state television, accused Ukraine of attempting to sow discord and fear among the Russian populace. He stressed the importance of unifying Russian society and instructed the defense ministry to expel the Ukrainian forces from Russian territory. The regional governor noted that 121,000 people had been evacuated from their homes, with around 2,000 Russian citizens still trapped in areas under Ukrainian control, their fates uncertain.
In Belgorod, a neighboring region to Kursk, 11,000 residents were also urged to evacuate due to escalating “enemy activity” near the border. Local officials issued missile warnings and advised residents to seek shelter in secure, windowless rooms.
In his nightly address, President Zelensky acknowledged the offensive, stating that peace must be enforced upon Russia if President Putin insists on continuing the conflict. “Russia brought war to others, and now it’s coming back to them. Ukraine has always sought peace, and we will achieve it,” Zelensky affirmed.
Ukrainian officials have revealed that thousands of troops are participating in this operation, contradicting earlier Russian reports that suggested only a small-scale incursion. An unnamed official told AFP that the operation aims to “inflict maximum losses and destabilize the situation within Russia.”
During a meeting with President Zelensky in Kyiv, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham praised the cross-border operation as “brilliant” and “bold,” urging the Biden administration to increase its military support to Ukraine.
In Russia, there has been growing concern about how Ukrainian forces managed to penetrate so deeply into the Kursk region. Pro-Russian war blogger Yuri Podolyaka described the situation as “alarming.” In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that a strong response from Russia’s military would not be delayed.
Meanwhile, Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has begun reinforcing its own border troops after accusing Ukraine of violating its airspace with drones, further escalating tensions in the region.
