Ukrainian president claims troops continue to expand control over Russia's Kursk region

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on Wednesday that his country’s troops continued to expand their control in Russia’s border region of Kursk, where Kyiv launched an “operation” over three weeks ago.

"We continue to expand our control over designated areas near Ukraine's border. Today, as every day, our exchange fund has also been replenished," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address.

Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian troops for their valor in the border region, saying he had heard a report on the situation regarding Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi earlier in the day during a meeting.

“This is something that will help bring home many of our people from Russian captivity. We must also understand now that all the pressure we have transferred to Russia means that they cannot put any more pressure on our Donetsk region,” he said.

The Ukrainian president said Syrskyi presented a report to him on the situation on various fronts in the Donetsk region, particularly Pokrovsk, describing the unfolding events there as “extremely difficult.”

He went on to say that Ukraine is working with its partners to provide military supplies to the front lines.

“We continue to insist that their determination now – lifting the restrictions on long-range strikes for Ukraine now – will help us to end the war as soon as possible in a fair way for Ukraine and the world as a whole,” he added.

Russian authorities have not yet commented on Zelenskyy's claims, and independent verification is difficult due to the ongoing conflict.

Kyiv's operation in the Kursk began on the night of August 5-6, when Ukrainian forces entered the region near the town of Sudzha, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border.

Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out a “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting,” defining the incursion as a “terrorist attack.”

Days later, Zelenskyy admitted it was an “operation” by Ukraine’s troops, specifying that the goal is to create a “buffer zone” against cross-border attacks by Russia.