Zelenskiy confirms for the first time Ukrainian army is active in the Belgorod region of Russia
(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops have been active in Russia's Belgorod region as they try to protect Ukrainian towns near the border.
Ukrainian troops remained in the neighboring Russian region Kursk eight months after the cross-border invasion, although Russian troops regained many lost territory.
In his night video speech, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine's top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi published a report on his frontline: “On the frontline, our presence in the Kursk region and our presence in the Belgorod region.”
“It is absolutely reasonable for us to continue to take active actions in the enemy’s border areas. The war must return to its source.
“Our main goal remains the same: to protect our land and our communities in Sumi and Kharkif regions from Russian occupiers.”
Later, he mentioned the operations of the 225th Ukraine Army in the region and congratulated the department on its performance.
Zelenskiy repeated Kyiv’s long-standing debate that despite Russia’s re-occupation of the Kursk region in recent weeks, the operation was successful as it lifted Russian troops from the main frontlines of the war in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
“We have managed to relieve pressure from other frontline sectors due to the operation of Kursk throughout, especially in the Donetsk region,” he said.
The president tilted last month about the “certain steps” taken by Ukrainian troops in Russia, “below the Kursk region”, suggesting its presence in the Bergorod region.
Russian military bloggers report fighting in the Bergorod region between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
On Sunday, Russia said its troops had occupied the village of Baslifka in the Sumi region of northeast Ukraine (opposite Kursk) and beat Ukrainian troops in different settlements.
Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly advised Russian troops to carve a buffer zone along the border.
A Ukrainian military spokesman issued a new denial at Russia on Monday.
(Reported by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editor of Cynthia Osterman)
