Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing challenges as Ukrainian offensives continue in Russia’s Kursk region, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a border security operation. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's actions are aimed at securing the border area from Russian military presence.
Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian troops have seized nearly 400 square miles of Russian territory in Kursk. This led Moscow to declare a state of emergency in the region, causing mass evacuations of Russian civilians.
Zelenskyy highlighted the heavy attacks on Ukraine’s Sumy oblast from Kursk, with over 2,000 rounds of drone, artillery, and mortar strikes originating from the Russian side. He justified the offensive as a measure to eliminate Russian threats at their source.
Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces are digging trenches in Kursk, indicating a long-term presence in Russia to divert Russian forces from the frontlines. Allegations surfaced that Putin appointed a security official, Alexei Dyumin, to oversee ending Ukraine’s operation in Kursk.
Expert analysis indicates that Ukraine's incursion into Kursk has forced Russia to reassess its border security and military strategy. The successful invasion has compelled Moscow to reconsider its force deployment in Ukraine and border defense.
Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. and allies to permit the use of long-range weapons to target Russian military assets. While the Biden administration allowed inter-border attacks in specific regions, Kyiv has conducted drone strikes in multiple Russian areas near the Ukrainian border.
The Pentagon confirmed that Ukraine's current operations align with U.S. policy on the use of provided weapons for cross-border attacks. However, Washington has refrained from authorizing long-range strikes in Russia, despite Zelenskyy's appeals for broader permissions to hasten the conflict's resolution and protect Ukrainian lives.
