Ukraine’s operation in Russia’s Kursk area is a part of a broader army, political and diplomatic effort aimed toward making Russia settle for a “fair peace,” mentioned President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Everything we do is for the purpose of forcing Russia be ready for fair peace,” Zelenskiy advised Indian journalists in Kyiv on Sunday, based on his Telegram. Ukraine took underneath its management two extra settlements in Kursk area, he mentioned in a each day video assertion.
Ukraine’s chief additionally mentioned with the visiting media Ukraine’s deliberate second peace summit, his assembly with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, and Kyiv’s hoped-for integration into the European Union.
Ukrainian forces launched a shock incursion into Russia’s Kursk area this month. On Saturday, Zelenskiy mentioned the transfer was completed to guard the northeastern Sumy area and to seize Russian troopers who could possibly be used for prisoner-of-war swaps.
Learn extra: Zelenskiy Says Kursk Operation Is Going In response to Plan
Putin on Saturday night time obtained experiences from at the very least 5 commanders concerned in fight missions in Russian territories bordering Ukraine, the Kremlin mentioned on Sunday.
Ukrainian forces declare to have management of greater than 1,250 sq. kilometers (483 sq. miles) of territory within the first overseas army offensive inside Russia since World Struggle II.
In an operational replace, Russia’s protection ministry mentioned its troops proceed to repel Ukrainian efforts in a number of settlements within the Kursk area, from which hundreds of residents have fled in latest weeks.
“Reconnaissance and search operations continue to identify and destroy enemy sabotage groups in forested areas that were attempting to penetrate deep into Russian territory,” the ministry mentioned.
The Kremlin on Saturday launched video of Putin assembly with Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces Common Workers. It was unclear when the assembly occurred.
Ukrainian intelligence additionally noticed a big focus of Belarusian army personnel, artillery and air protection in its Gomel area close to Ukraine’s northern border underneath the disguise of army drill, Ukrainian Overseas Ministry mentioned in emailed assertion.
Ukraine urged Belarus to keep away from “tragic mistakes under Moscow’s pressure” and withdraw the forces to a distance unreachable for Belarusian methods.