Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged for the first time Kyiv’s unexpected offensive into the western Kursk region, saying that the incursion was an effort to bring back justice and put pressure on Moscow’s forces.
On Saturday, Russian authorities implemented a comprehensive security regime and evacuated residents in three border regions. Accusing Kyiv of violating its airspace, Moscow ally Belarus also sent reinforcements to its border with Ukraine.
Zelenskiy stated in his nightly video address that he had discussed the operation with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi and had determined to react in kind after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“Ukraine has demonstrated that it can actually restore justice and provides the exact kind of pressure that is needed – pressure on the aggressor.” He said.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed on Sunday that it had destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles over the Kursk region overnight.
It referred to the ground incursion as “barbaric” and declared that it was devoid of military rationale.
