Ukraine has announced that it does not intend to retain any Russian territory captured during its recent surprise cross-border incursion and has offered to halt such raids if Moscow agrees to a “just peace”.
Last Tuesday, Ukrainian forces entered Russia’s Kursk region, seizing control of over two dozen settlements in what is being described as the most significant foreign military attack on Russian soil since World War II.
By Monday, Ukrainian forces reportedly controlled around 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory, with an AFP analysis estimating that at least 800 square kilometers remained under Ukrainian control.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Georgiy Tykhy, emphasised that Kyiv has no interest in “taking over” Russian land, defending the incursion as “absolutely legitimate.”
He stated, “The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace, the sooner the raids by Ukrainian defense forces into Russia will stop.”
In response to the increasing hostilities, Ukraine has imposed movement restrictions within a 20-kilometer zone in the Sumy region, along the border with Kursk, citing a rise in “sabotage” activities.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have “foiled” new Ukrainian attacks in Kursk and accused Ukraine of conducting the operation “with the support of the collective West”.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has captured territories in southern and eastern Ukraine while subjecting Ukrainian cities to relentless missile and drone attacks.
The recent Ukrainian incursion into Kursk marked the most extensive cross-border action since the conflict began, catching Russia off guard.
Ukrainian soldiers involved in the offensive described minimal Russian defenses, with one soldier noting that Russia “didn’t protect the border” and only had scattered anti-personnel mines.
Ukrainian military analyst Mykola Bielieskov commented on Russia’s apparent complacency, noting that Moscow likely underestimated Ukraine’s willingness to launch such an attack.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian forces and accused Kyiv of trying to “sow discord” and “destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society”.
As the situation develops, Russia has acknowledged that Ukrainian forces penetrated up to 30 kilometers into its territory, with Ukrainian officials indicating that thousands of troops are involved in the operation.
A Ukrainian security official stated that the goal is to “stretch the positions of the enemy, inflict maximum losses, and destabilise the situation in Russia”.
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