Zelensky: We are achieving our goals in Kursk

Ukraine's counter-invasion of Russia aims to create a buffer zone against the enemy, says President Volodymyr Zelensky. At the same time, Russia's advance in Ukrainian Donetsk continues, where "mandatory evacuation" is now being initiated.

» Published: August 19 2024

Zelensky: We are achieving our goals in Kursk
Photo: AP/TT

Share this article

Ukraine's primary and overarching defense task is to destroy as much as possible of Russian combat capability and to achieve as much as possible within the framework of the counteroffensive, says Zelenskyj in a recorded speech on social media on Sunday evening.

This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor's territory, as in our operation in Kursk, says the president.

On Monday, both Zelenskyj and military chief Oleksandr Syrskyj state that Ukraine is achieving its goals in Kursk.

From Ukraine's side, several official and unofficial motives have been put forward for the country's forces crossing the border in a surprise land offensive last Tuesday week.

Russian Advance

Military sources reported early on that one goal was to divert Russian invasion forces from the fiercest battles in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, which many analysts have also seen as a likely purpose.

So far, however, Russia does not seem to have made any major troop movements from the east towards the Ukrainian-controlled areas in the Kursk region. On the contrary, reports are emerging of continued advances towards the city of Pokrovsk, a key hub in Donetsk. According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, the country's forces have captured another settlement near Pokrovsk, where authorities on Monday responded with evacuations.

"We are launching mandatory evacuation of families with children from Pokrovsk and surrounding areas", Governor Vadym Filasjkin announces on Telegram, citing the Russians' rapid advance.

Over 53,000 people are said to live in the area, including nearly 4,000 children.

Green Light from Denmark

Mychajlo Podoljak, a close adviser to Ukraine's President Zelenskyj, said last week that the offensive on Russian soil is intended to enable Ukraine to negotiate peace "on its own terms".

Ukraine's border regions in the northeast have been under regular bombardment from the Russian side during the war. The Ukrainian defense has had limited opportunities to strike back at targets in Russia, as the country's allies have at least previously had reservations about how donated weapons can be used.

In recent weeks, however, several countries have changed their stance and given Ukraine the green light to use their weapons on Russian soil, including the UK and Finland. On Monday, the Danish government also gives the go-ahead for such attacks, reports the news agency Ritzau.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Israel Announces Flights to Humanitarian Zone in Khan Yunis
1 MIN READ

Israel Announces Flights to Humanitarian Zone in Khan Yunis

Norway Election Polls Show Red-Green Bloc Leading Over Høyre
2 MIN READ

Norway Election Polls Show Red-Green Bloc Leading Over Høyre

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches
1 MIN READ

Man Killed in Rare Shark Attack at Sydney's Northern Beaches

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions
3 MIN READ

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands
1 MIN READ

Serbian Police Clash with Protesters in Novi Sad Amid Election Demands

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release
1 MIN READ

Trump Engages in Talks with Hamas for Israeli Hostage Release

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department
1 MIN READ

Trump Renames Defense Department to War Department

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah
1 MIN READ

Lebanon Military Begins Plan to Disarm Hizbollah

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables
2 MIN READ

Eagle S Captain Denies Intentional Damage to Baltic Sea Cables

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War
2 MIN READ

Trump Deploys 10 F-35 Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico Amid Drug War

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis
1 MIN READ

WHO Declares Mpox No Longer a Global Health Crisis

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Foreign Minister Meets Zelenskyj to Boost Pressure on Russia

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution
4 MIN READ

IAGS Faces Backlash Over Gaza Genocide Resolution

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister
2 MIN READ

UK Government Reshuffle: Angela Rayner Resigns, David Lammy Becomes Justice Minister

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas
1 MIN READ

Israeli Military Targets Gaza High-Rises Used by Hamas

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes
1 MIN READ

UN Report: Congo Violence Could Be War Crimes

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister
1 MIN READ

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected as Thailand's New Prime Minister

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution
1 MIN READ

Finland Joins UN Declaration for Peaceful Gaza Solution

Hamas Releases New Video of Israeli Hostages Amid Ongoing Conflict
2 MIN READ

Hamas Releases New Video of Israeli Hostages Amid Ongoing Conflict