KYIV: Ukraine on Tuesday said it would not hold on to Russian territory captured in its surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region and offered to stop raids if Moscow agreed to a “just peace”. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops from the seized territories.
The Ukrainian offensive, which marks the largest foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II, has significantly intensified the conflict between the two nations.
Last Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched a bold incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, seizing control of over two dozen settlements. This maneuver has been described as the most significant attack on Russian territory since the beginning of the conflict.
Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrsky reported that as of Monday, Ukrainian troops controlled approximately 1,000 square kilometers of the Russian land, with at least 800 square kilometers currently under their control according to the analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War.
Meanwhile, Russia has reported successfully repelling new attacks in Kursk. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed it thwarted attempts by Ukrainian “enemy mobile groups in armoured vehicles” to penetrate deeper into Russian territory.
Alexander Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB security service, alleged that Ukraine’s actions were supported by the “collective West,” a claim reflecting the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy said that Kyiv’s objective is not to permanently occupy Russian territory. “The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace, the sooner the raids by the Ukrainian defence forces into Russia will stop,” Tykhy told reporters.
He defended the incursion as “absolutely legitimate” and reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to halt further military actions if a fair peace settlement is achieved.
Ukraine has imposed movement restrictions in a 20-kilometre zone in the Sumy region along the border with Kursk, citing an “increase in the intensity of hostilities” and concerns over “sabotage” activities.
Ukrainian servicemen who participated in the offensive described the operation as a shock to Russian defences. One Ukrainian soldier, identified as Ruzhyk, noted the lack of adequate border protection on the Russian side, pointing out that Russian forces had only minimal anti-personnel mines deployed in the area.
Another squad leader, Faraon, recounted the grim reality of the early battles, describing the scene as “terrifying” but later becoming accustomed to the harsh conditions.
Military analyst Mykola Bielieskov suggested that Russian complacency had contributed to the surprise and scale of the Ukrainian offensive. “Russia assumed that, given its advances elsewhere, Ukraine wouldn’t undertake such bold actions,” Bielieskov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops from the seized territories, declaring the incursion as part of Ukraine’s strategy to “sow discord” and undermine the unity of Russian society.
Regional governor Alexei Smirnov said that Ukrainian forces had advanced at least 12 kilometers into the Kursk region, establishing a new front that now spans 40 kilometers wide.
A Ukrainian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the goal of the operation was to “stretch the positions of the enemy, inflict maximum losses, and destabilize the situation in Russia.” The official noted that thousands of Ukrainian troops were involved in the operation, reflecting the scale and seriousness of the offensive.
