Zelensky Confirms Ukrainian Troops Active Inside Russia's Belgorod Region!
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly acknowledged that Ukrainian troops are actively engaged in operations within Russia's Belgorod region. This marks the first time Ukraine has explicitly confirmed military activity on Russian soil, signaling a potential shift in the dynamics of the ongoing conflict.
Zelensky stated, "We continue to carry out active operations in the border areas on enemy territory, and that is absolutely just - war must return to where it came from." His statement also alluded to Ukrainian presence in Russia's Kursk region, where Kyiv briefly held territory following an offensive last year.
According to Zelensky, the primary objective of these operations is to safeguard Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv border regions while easing pressure on other parts of the extensive front line, particularly in the Donetsk region.
Russia's military previously reported and claimed to have thwarted Ukrainian attempts to infiltrate the Belgorod region.
In his address, Zelensky mentioned receiving updates from top commander Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the front-line situation, "including our presence in the Kursk and Belgorod regions." He also expressed gratitude to specific army units, including the 225th Assault Regiment stationed in the Belgorod region.
While Zelensky did not provide specific details, this is his first explicit confirmation of Ukrainian troops operating in Belgorod. Previously, on March 18, he indirectly acknowledged their presence, stating, "There is an operation there," in response to reports of Ukrainian troops attempting to enter the region.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) had also reported on March 21 that "Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod".
Despite these reports, Russian military bloggers have recently indicated that Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from the Demidovka area.
It is believed that Ukraine's operation in Belgorod is smaller in scale than its actions in Kursk, where Kyiv seized several villages.
Zelensky and his commanders have consistently stated that these incursions force Moscow to redeploy troops from the Donetsk region, where Russian forces have been making gradual advances.
Ukraine may also aim to leverage control over these Russian areas in potential peace negotiations in exchange for Ukrainian territories occupied by Moscow. However, some analysts have questioned the military effectiveness of these operations, citing potential casualties and supply challenges.