President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday that Ukraine’s military operation into Russia’s Kursk region aims to establish a “buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory,” which is intended to discourage future Russian assaults on Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also indicated that Ukrainian forces are boosting their positions in Kursk, affirming that “our foothold in the area is becoming more secure.”

The president praised his troops for capturing Russian soldiers, mentioning that this will “replenish our exchange fund” and expedite the release of Ukrainian military personnel and civilians held by Russia.

“Our main objective is to eliminate as much of Russia’s military capacity as we can and execute extensive counteroffensive operations,” Zelenskyy remarked.

Ukrainian forces are resolute in defending the nearly 400 square miles of territory they’ve taken and held for about two weeks against any Russian attempts to reclaim it. Ukraine’s air force commander reported a second bridge in the area was severely damaged as efforts continue to undermine Russian military activities. “That’s another bridge down,” air force Commander Mykola Oleschuk noted on Telegram.

Recent Updates:

∎ Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the incursion, calling it a “situation” and suggested that the U.S. and the West orchestrated it. U.S. officials claim they had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s actions.

∎ Two women were injured due to drone strikes by Ukraine on Russia’s Belgorod region, according to local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Kursk Evacuees Advised Not to Return Yet

Officials in Kursk’s Korenevo district informed residents who fled the area amid hostilities that they cannot return home. Marina Degtyareva described the circumstances as “very challenging.” Attempts by some individuals to go back have caused issues for Russian military forces and have sometimes resulted in “terrible tragedies,” she stated in a social media update, ensuring residents will be informed when it is safe to return.

This incursion, according to Russian authorities, has forced over 120,000 civilians to evacuate, shocking many residents of the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine.

“Nobody anticipated that such a conflict could arise in the Kursk region,” stated Yan Furtsev, a local opposition member from the Yabloko party, to Euronews. “This has created a lot of confusion and panic, as citizens from front-line areas are arriving terrified.”

Kyiv Under Missile Attack from Russia

On Sunday, Russia executed its third ballistic missile strike on Kyiv this month, though initial reports indicated that most missiles were intercepted, according to the military administration in the Ukrainian capital. Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, noted on Telegram that the missile attacks occurred six days apart, seemingly as a reaction to the successful Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region.

No injuries were reported, but Governor Ruslan Kravchenko mentioned that two houses were destroyed, and 16 others were damaged by debris from this recent attack.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine two and a half years ago, it has managed to seize control of approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory in the eastern and southern regions.