Ukraine’s Cross-Border Offensive into Russia’s Kursk Region Intensifies.
In a stunning development, the Ukrainian military’s audacious cross-border offensive into Russia‘s Kursk region has intensified, with President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring that his troops have “advanced well” into the enemy territory, as the ambitious operation stretches into its second week.
Addressing the nation in his evening address, Zelensky expressed confidence in achieving strategic goals, stating, “Today we have advanced well in the Kursk region. We are achieving our strategic goal.” Earlier on Wednesday, he had also spoken of gains ranging from “one to two kilometers in different areas since the beginning of the day.”
The Ukrainian army’s incursion into the Kursk region on August 6 marked the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II, capturing dozens of settlements in a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the region.
As the offensive gains momentum, Ukraine‘s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko revealed plans to create a “buffer zone” in the Kursk region, aimed at protecting Ukrainian border communities from Russian cross-border strikes. “The creation of a buffer zone in the Kursk region is a step to protect our border communities from daily hostile shelling,” he stated.
The neighboring Russian region of Belgorod has declared a state of emergency, with the governor warning of an “extremely difficult” situation due to Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks.
An analysis by AFP, based on data provided by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), indicates that Ukrainian troops had advanced over an area of at least 800 square kilometers (310 square miles) of Russia as of Monday.
While Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian attempts to push further into five areas of Kursk, the audacity of the offensive has undoubtedly caught the Kremlin off guard and presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a “real dilemma,” as acknowledged by US President Joe Biden.
The impact of the offensive has been far-reaching, with more than 120,000 Russians fleeing their homes in Kursk’s border areas.
In a humanitarian gesture, Ukraine has offered to “open humanitarian corridors” for civilians in the captured territory, allowing them to evacuate towards Russia or Ukraine, and has also expressed willingness to allow “international humanitarian organizations” into the area.
Footage from Ukrainian TSN news, purportedly taken inside the Kursk town of Sudzha, has further fueled the narrative of Ukrainian advances, showing soldiers climbing atop a building and removing a Russian flag, triumphantly shouting “Glory to Ukraine!”
As the offensive continues to unfold, Russians in Moscow have expressed concern over the turn of events, with some feeling the war’s proximity more acutely than ever before. “Now, when it is happening right next door to us… it is a completely different feeling,” remarked Olga Raznoglazova, a 36-year-old account manager visiting from the Kursk region.
Putin, in response, has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops from Russian territory, accusing Ukraine of using the operation to “improve its negotiating position” in any future talks.
On the Ukrainian side of the border with Kursk, evidence of the intensity of the fighting is evident, with concrete fortifications toppled and the remains of security and customs buildings caved in. As the offensive continues to captivate the world’s attention, the audacity and determination of the Ukrainian forces have undoubtedly reshaped the battlefield and set the stage for a potentially decisive chapter in this ongoing conflict.
