Zelensky: Operation in the Kursk region thwarts Russian plans to capture Sumy
25 August, 2024 The Armed Forces of Ukraine during rotation from Kursk oblast. Photo from open sources An offensive operation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kursk region thwarted Russian plans to seize the city of Sumy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this during a joint press conference with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Polish President Andrzej Duda. According to him, the operation in the Kursk region is "complex," but it has already solved several problems. At the same time, the President noted that not all the objectives can be discussed yet.
One of them is to replenish the exchange fund. Another task of the Ukrainian Defense Forces was to carry out a "preventive strike" that prevented the encirclement of Ukrainian military units in the Sumy region and thwarted the Russian invaders' plans to capture the city of Sumy, which is the regional center.
Ukrainian military in the Kursk region. August 2024, Russia.
Photo credits: The New York Times
At the same time, Zelensky denied that Ukraine wants to use the operation in the Kursk region as a trump card in negotiations with Russia. In addition, the President noted that the operation is also intended to show what is more expensive for Putin - the occupation of Ukrainian territories or the protection of his population. "And I am very glad that everything I told our partners about, we have now shown it in practice.
He still thinks about how to hold the seized territories and does not think about how to properly protect his people. He is now bombing his villages. Just bravo," Zelensky said.
Operation in the Kursk region
On August 6, Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
The purpose of the operation is to create a buffer zone to protect residents of Ukraine's border regions from Russian shelling.
M1126 Stryker armored personnel carrier and Oncilla armored vehicle of the Ukrainian military in the Kursk sector. August 2024. Photo credits: REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
According to the military command, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have taken control of dozens of settlements, including the town of Sudzha.
The rapid advance deep into the territory of the aggressor country led to the disorganization of the Russian army units that were directly on the border or in the near rear. Some of the Russian military were forced to surrender to Ukrainian troops.