Quotes
What’s happening in Kursk is the incursion of terrorist sabotage groups, so there is no front line as such,
As of now, about 1,000 sq km of Russian territory is under our control…The situation is under our control,
We even call it the ‘demilitarisation’ of Kaliningrad, which is happening thanks to the bravery of your military, thanks to your decisions,
Not for a second do we forget about our eastern front,
Zelensky said on Wednesday, Russia is trying very hard to downplay the Ukrainians' successes,
If Ukraine could strike the enemy troops on their territory, from where they threaten Ukraine, then Ukraine would be in a much better position to protect itself."
We are expanding the area of active operations. The Commander-in-Chief reported that our forces control 74 settlements in the Kursk region,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address on Tuesday, citing Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi We have proven once again that we, Ukrainians, are capable of achieving our goals in any situation—capable of defending our interests and our independence,
The Russians understand the motivations of Ukraine as trying to strengthen its negotiating position, so that rather than Ukraine always being pressured to give up territory, now it holds some Russian territory it has more agency and can propose land swaps,
The grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine keeps conducting the operation in the territory of Kursk Oblast. Today our troops advanced from one to three kilometres in some areas. 40 square kilometres were taken under control, and, as of today, 74 settlements remain under our control. The fighting is ongoing all along the frontline. The situation is under control despite the high intensity of combat action."
The Ukrainians have been understandably cagey about what their intended goals are, but there are a few things they could be seeking to simultaneously accomplish
Jacob Parakilas, research leader for Defence Strategy, Policy and Capabilities at the thinktank RAND Europe, said If, in going to the defence Ukraine can turn this part of the front on Russian soil into the same kind of positional war that has evolved along the rest of the front in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's forces could hold this ground for weeks or even months.
The Russians seem to have been caught by surprise, or at least not prepared
This always happens to those who despise people and any rules - Russia brought war to others, and now it is coming home,
Zelensky said stoically in his latest address It is now clear why the Kyiv regime refused our proposals to return to a peaceful settlement plan,
The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace, the sooner Ukrainian raids on Russian territory will stop.
That analysis was supported by a statement from a Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson, who today told reporters in Kyiv As long as Putin continues the war, he will receive such responses from Ukraine,
The spokesperson did however add ... suggesting Over the weekend, it seems like more Russian forces, including some pulled from inside Ukraine, have started arriving and may have now halted further Ukrainian advances, but it's not been a particularly impressive response yet.
Zelensky's goals with the incursion into Russian territory are becoming clearer with time
Retired US Army Brigadier General and former US Defence Attaché in Moscow Kevin Ryan said