KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces were “strengthening” their positions in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv has been mounting a major ground offensive.
Zelensky’s statement came after Russian officials accused Ukraine of destroying a key bridge across the Seym River in the Kursk region, which is crucial for Russian military logistics. The Ukrainian president highlighted the progress made by his forces, noting that Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrsky reported on the “strengthening of positions” and the expansion of controlled territory in the region.
“As of this morning, we have replenished the exchange fund for our country,” Zelensky said, referring to Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, who are intended for future prisoner swaps. “I thank all the soldiers and commanders who are taking Russian soldiers prisoner and thus bringing the release of our soldiers and civilians held by Russia closer,” he added.
The Ukrainian military’s surprise offensive into Russia, which began on August 6, has been described as the largest cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II. Kyiv has claimed control over several dozen villages and significant swathes of land in the Kursk region, with the Ukrainian army reporting control over 82 settlements covering an area of 1,150 square kilometers.
Meanwhile, Zelensky addressed the situation on the eastern front, near the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, stating that it remains “under control.” He reported that despite numerous Russian assaults in the area, Ukrainian forces are successfully repelling the attacks and inflicting damage on Russian positions.
The conflict has also seen significant aerial engagements. Ukraine’s air defences successfully intercepted 14 Russian drones overnight, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that all drones were downed over six regions in southern and central Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of using US-made HIMARS rocket launchers. Zakharova claimed that the bridge attack resulted in the deaths of volunteers who were helping to evacuate civilians from the area.
Russia has criticized the West for its support of Ukraine, with officials denouncing the incursion as a “terrorist invasion” and claiming it will not alter the course of the conflict. The Russian government has maintained that the offensive is a part of the West’s broader strategy to undermine Russian sovereignty.
In Washington, US officials have said that the use of American weaponry by Ukraine, including the HIMARS system, is justified in the context of the ongoing conflict. The United States has expressed its commitment to ensuring that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not achieve his objectives in the war, which began in February 2022.
