KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday hailed the success of a high-stakes offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, a move that has intensified tensions and dashed immediate hopes for peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
The surprise attack, launched on August 6, marks the most significant breach of Russian territory since World War II and has elicited a stern response from the Kremlin.
Zelensky hailed the offensive as a strategic triumph, noting that Ukrainian forces had managed to secure a foothold several kilometers inside Kursk. This bold maneuver, aimed at stretching Russian forces and establishing a “buffer zone,” has garnered support from Ukraine’s Western allies.
“This morning we have another replenishment of the [prisoner of war] exchange fund for our country,” Zelensky remarked, referring to the capture of additional Russian soldiers. He emphasized that the incursion was designed to advance Kyiv’s objectives and bring the conflict closer to a resolution on “fair” terms.
However, the Kremlin has responded with defiance. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov declared that the recent Ukrainian offensive has pushed the prospect of peace talks further away. “At the current stage, given this escapade, we will not talk,” Ushakov stated. He dismissed the idea of peace talks as “completely inappropriate” and said that future discussions will depend on developments on the battlefield, including the situation in Kursk.
The prospect of peace talks appeared distant even before Ukraine launched its incursion into Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin had demanded Ukraine cede swathes of territory if it wanted a ceasefire.
Zelensky, who has ruled out direct talks with the Kremlin, demands Russia’s full withdrawal from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, and reparations.
In response to the Ukrainian incursion, Moscow has intensified its efforts in eastern Ukraine, capturing the town of Artemovo (known as Zalizne in Ukrainian) in the Donetsk region. Russian forces have also reportedly thwarted Ukrainian attempts to advance in three additional villages.
As the conflict escalates, Ukraine has ordered the compulsory evacuation of families from Pokrovsk, a key city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, as Russian troops advance closer to this vital logistics hub. The evacuation affects over 53,000 residents, including nearly 4,000 children. Ukrainian officials described the evacuation as “necessary and inevitable” given the proximity of the front lines.
In Kursk, Zelensky’s troops have set up administrative offices and published previously unthinkable footage of Ukrainian soldiers patrolling Russian streets.
“We are achieving our goals. This morning we have another replenishment of the (prisoner of war) exchange fund for our country,” Zelensky said, referring to more Russian troops being taken captive.
On Sunday, he said the push into Russian territory was designed to create a “buffer zone”.
The offensive into Kursk has also seen a series of logistical setbacks for Russia, including the destruction of a third bridge over the Seym River. This development has significantly constrained Russian supply lines, according to military analysts and pro-Kremlin commentators.
The conflict’s impact is becoming increasingly visible within Russia, with some Ukrainians hoping that the heightened exposure to the war could shift public sentiment against the Kremlin’s policies. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that the increased visibility of the conflict might prompt Russian citizens to advocate for peace on “fair” terms.
