Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday (Aug 18) that the Ukrainian military’s invasion into Russia’s Kursk region aimed to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border.
This was the first time that President Zelensky clearly stated the aim of the operation, which was launched on August 6, a report by the news agency Associated Press said.
Previously, he had said the operation aimed to protect communities in the bordering Sumy region from constant shelling.
‘Our primary task…’
In his nightly address, Zelensky said, “It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall: to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions.”
“This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory -– our operation in the Kursk region,” he added. The Ukrainian president pointed out that the military achieved good and much-needed results.
Citing analysts, the Associated Press report said that although Ukraine could try to consolidate its gains inside Russia, it would be risky, given Kyiv’s limited resources, because its supply lines extending deep into Kursk would be vulnerable.
The incursion has proven Ukraine’s ability to seize the initiative and has boosted its morale, which was sapped by a failed counteroffensive last summer and months of grinding Russian gains in the eastern Donbas region.
In the latest news from the incursion, Ukrainian air forces destroyed another strategic bridge over the Seym River, limiting the supply capacity of a Russian group opposing Kyiv’s advance.
Permission to strike deeper into Russia
On Saturday, Zelensky sought permission from Ukraine’s allies to lift remaining restrictions on using Western weapons to attack targets deeper in Russia, including in Kursk, saying his troops could deprive Moscow “of any ability to advance and cause destruction” if granted sufficient long-range capabilities.
“It is crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands. … The bravery of our soldiers and the resilience of our combat brigades compensate for the lack of essential decisions from our partners,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
