Zelensky Praises Ukrainian Forces Amid Bold Cross-Border Attack into Russia
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has commended his military's ability to "surprise" and "achieve results" as they continue a daring cross-border assault into Russian territory, signaling a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
In the early hours of Tuesday, around 1,000 Ukrainian troops, supported by tanks, armored vehicles, and swarms of drones, successfully breached the Russian border and advanced into the Kursk region, according to Russian officials. The attack, described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "major provocation," has led Russia to declare a state of emergency in the region. Thousands of residents have been evacuated as the situation remains tense.
While Ukrainian authorities, including President Zelensky, have not directly commented on the specifics of the attack, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to the president, emphasized that the "root cause of any escalation," including the incursion into Kursk, was Russia's "unequivocal aggression" and its belief that it could invade Ukraine without facing repercussions. He also hinted that these military actions might strengthen Ukraine's position in any future peace negotiations with Russia.
At an event to unveil a new digital app designed to streamline military paperwork, President Zelensky highlighted the effectiveness of Ukraine’s armed forces, stating, "Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And knows how to achieve results. This is demonstrated on the battlefield, where our soldiers not only withstood the overwhelming force of the occupiers, but are also destroying it in the way necessary to protect Ukraine—our state and independence."
Reports from the Institute for the Study of War indicate that Ukrainian forces have penetrated more than six miles (10km) into Russian territory, breaking through two defensive lines and a stronghold. There are also reports suggesting that Kyiv’s forces are advancing towards a village 13 miles into Russia.
Heavy fighting has been reported near the town of Sudzha, with some Russian military bloggers, considered reliable sources of information, indicating that Ukrainian forces are pushing toward the Kursk nuclear power station, located under 40 miles northeast of Sudzha. Yuri Podolyaka, a popular pro-Russian military blogger originally from Ukraine, described intense battles about 30 km from the Soviet-era nuclear plant, which is a key power source for southern Russia.
Despite the hostilities, Ukraine's energy minister confirmed that gas transit via Sudzha continues to function. Although most European Union nations have reduced their reliance on Russian gas, Austria remains heavily dependent on supplies via Ukraine. The Center for Information Resilience (CIR), a non-profit organization specializing in open-source analysis, reported significant damage to the border checkpoint about 500 meters south of the gas metering station. However, they were unable to confirm any damage to the station itself. Footage verified by CIR also shows several Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian forces near the station, suggesting that the facility may have been affected by the incursion.
Kursk's acting regional governor, Alexei Smirnov, confirmed that thousands of residents had been evacuated in response to the attack. Meanwhile, the White House, Ukraine's largest supporter, stated that it had no prior knowledge of the operation and is seeking more details from Kyiv.
In a separate development, Ukrainian shelling reportedly killed at least two individuals—a paramedic and an ambulance driver—and injured 24 others, according to Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. These claims have not been independently verified.
Russia’s defense ministry asserted on Thursday that its forces, alongside the Federal Security Service, had halted the Ukrainian advance. However, this claim has been made repeatedly since the attack began, despite continued heavy fighting in the region.
The battles in Kursk come at a critical moment in the conflict, the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Kyiv remains concerned that U.S. support could wane if former President Donald Trump, who has stated his intention to end the war, wins the November presidential election. Both Russia and Ukraine are eager to secure the strongest possible positions on the battlefield ahead of any potential negotiations.