On Tuesday, Ukraine announced it would not retain any Russian territory gained during its recent cross-border incursion and offered to halt raids if Moscow agreed to a “just peace.”
Last Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack into Russia’s Kursk region, capturing over two dozen settlements in the largest foreign military action on Russian soil since World War II. Russia reported on Tuesday that it had repelled further attacks in Kursk.
Over 120,000 people have fled the area, and Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrsky stated on Monday that his forces controlled approximately 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory. An AFP analysis, based on data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War, confirmed that at least 800 square kilometers were under Ukrainian control as of Monday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy stated that Kyiv was not interested in permanently occupying Russian territory and defended Ukraine’s actions as “absolutely legitimate.” He emphasized that the cessation of Ukrainian raids into Russia would depend on Russia agreeing to a fair peace settlement.
In response to increased hostilities and sabotage activities, Ukraine has imposed movement restrictions in a 20-kilometer zone in the Sumy region, near the Kursk border.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed it had thwarted new Ukrainian attacks in Kursk by repelling enemy mobile groups equipped with armored vehicles attempting to advance further into Russian territory. Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB security service, alleged that Ukraine’s attack was conducted with support from the “collective West.”
Since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, it has seized territory in southern and eastern Ukraine, subjecting Ukrainian cities to frequent missile and drone attacks. Ukraine’s recent offensive, the largest cross-border action since the invasion, caught Russia by surprise.
A Ukrainian serviceman, identified as Ruzhyk, noted that Russia had failed to adequately protect the border, relying on only minimal anti-personnel mines. Another Ukrainian squad leader, Faraon, described the initial battles in Kursk as “terrifying” but said they eventually became accustomed to the intensity.
Military analyst Mykola Bielieskov commented that Russian complacency allowed the recent Ukrainian actions, as Russia had assumed Ukraine would not risk such a bold move while it focused on its other fronts.
According to ISW data, Russian forces have captured 1,360 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since the start of 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops, accusing Ukraine of attempting to “sow discord” and “destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society.” Putin also suggested that Ukraine’s actions were aimed at improving its position for any future negotiations with Moscow.
Regional governor Alexei Smirnov reported that Ukrainian forces had advanced at least 12 kilometers into Kursk, creating a new front that is now 40 kilometers wide. Russia had previously acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had penetrated up to 30 kilometers into Russian territory in some areas.
A Ukrainian security official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the goal of Ukraine’s operation was to stretch Russian positions, inflict significant losses, and destabilize the situation in Russia due to its inability to secure its own border. Thousands of Ukrainian troops were reportedly involved in the operation
