Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff on Monday, where he was briefed on the ongoing Ukrainian military operation in Russia’s Kursk region.
This marks the first official acknowledgment by Ukrainian authorities of an offensive in the Russian territory.
In a statement released by the President’s Office, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the operation and expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers and commanders involved. “The most crucial point was the report by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on our defensive actions on the front and the operation in Kursk region. We are grateful to all soldiers and commanders for their resilience and decisive actions,” Zelenskyy stated.
Zelenskyy also directed Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, other government officials, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to prepare a humanitarian plan for the territory involved in the operation.
During the meeting, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi provided an update on the situation, confirming that Ukrainian forces had gained control of approximately 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory in the Kursk region. “The situation is under our control,” Syrskyi reported, in a video released by the President’s Office.
This statement is significant as it represents the first official admission by Kyiv of Ukrainian military actions inside Russia’s borders.
The Ukrainian breakthrough in Kursk has reportedly caused considerable consternation in the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s frustration over the situation has become increasingly apparent. During a recent meeting, acting Governor of Kursk region Alexey Smirnov informed Putin that Ukrainian forces had penetrated 12 kilometers into Russian territory and that 28 settlements were under Ukrainian control.
Putin, visibly irritated by the disclosure of such sensitive information, interrupted Smirnov, stating that the matter was under the jurisdiction of the military. “Well, listen, Alexey Borisovich, the military department will report to us on the width and depth of this,” Putin responded sharply.