Ukraine has said it does not seek to keep the Russian territories it has captured in the Kursk region and will stop its attacks if Russia agrees to peace. The Ukrainian operation is aimed at forcing Russia into negotiations while continuing to evacuate the affected areas. Read more
Ukraine has said it does not intend to hold on to the territories it has seized in the Kursk region.
The attacks would stop if Russia agreed to a fair peace settlement, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alain Ghosn said. He said Ukraine’s actions were aimed at forcing Russia into negotiations as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained the conflict.
Ukrainian military operations in the Kursk region are reportedly supporting the front line by preventing Russia from redeploying forces to the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, while Russian authorities continue evacuation operations in and around the Kursk region.
Residents first began evacuating the Bolshetsoldatsky district on Tuesday morning. District head Vladimir Zaitsev said the evacuation was voluntary and had not been requested in advance.
Evacuation efforts in the Belovsky district were expanded on Monday, with district head Nikolai Vorobuev describing the situation as “very serious.” Acting Governor Alexei Smirnov reported that about 121,000 people had been evacuated from the Kursk region, with around 200 evacuees reaching Moscow.
Ukraine claims control of about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory in Kursk, but the Institute for War Studies estimates it to be closer to 800 square kilometers.
Early Tuesday morning, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 30 of the 38 drones launched by Russia. Ukraine also imposed restrictions on civilian movement within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) zone near the Russian border.
In response to Ukraine’s aggression, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Russia brought war to other countries, and now it is bringing war to itself.” Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to give Ukraine’s actions a “befitting response.”
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the escalating conflict and the protection of civilians in areas of military operations, but aid groups’ access remains restricted and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has faced resistance from Ukraine to working on Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the effectiveness of his country’s air defense system, which destroyed 30 Russian drones overnight, and reiterated his commitment to defend Ukraine and keep its skies safe.