Zelensky says Ukraine ‘strengthening’ positions in Russia’s Kursk region

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 17 that his forces were “strengthening” their positions in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv has been mounting a major ground offensive.

His comments came a day after Russian officials accused Ukraine of destroying a key bridge across the Seym river that cuts through the border region, as Kyiv seeks to disrupt the movement of Moscow’s troops in the area.

Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi “reported on the strengthening of the positions of our forces in the Kursk region and the expansion of stabilised territory”, Mr Zelensky posted on messaging app Telegram.

“As of this morning, we have replenished the exchange fund for our country,” he said, referring to Russian soldiers whom Ukraine has captured to be used in future prisoner swops.

“I thank all the soldiers and commanders who are taking Russian soldiers prisoner and thus bringing the release of our soldiers and civilians held by Russia closer,” Mr Zelensky added.

Ukraine’s army launched its surprise offensive into Russia on Aug 6, claiming to capture several dozen villages in the biggest cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II.

Mr Zelensky separately said the situation on the eastern front near the towns of Pokrovsk and Toretsk was “under control”, after Russia reported it had made a string of advances towards them in recent weeks.

“(There were) dozens of Russian assaults on our positions over the last day. But our soldiers and units are doing everything to destroy the occupier and repel the attacks,” he added.

Kyiv claimed to have taken control of 82 settlements over an area of 1,150 sq km in the Kursk region

since Aug 6.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry put the figure as exceeding what Russia has advanced in Ukraine in 2024.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Ukraine used Western rockets to destroy the bridge over the Seym river in the Kursk region, killing volunteers trying to evacuate civilians.

“For the first time, the Kursk region was hit by Western-made rocket launchers, probably American Himars,” Ms Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the ministry, said on Telegram.

“As a result of the attack on the bridge over the Seym river in the Glushkovo district, it was completely destroyed, and volunteers who were assisting the evacuated civilian population were killed.”

Mr Zelensky hailed Russia’s losses in the Kursk region as “very helpful” for Ukraine’s defence. “It concerns the destruction of the Russian army logistics and the draining of their reserves,” he said.

Kyiv Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Telegram that aviation was an active part of the operation, targeting the enemy’s supply routes and logistics centres.

Objective in the east

The heaviest fighting, though, was ongoing in Ukraine’s east where Russian troops for months have been inching towards the strategic hub of Pokrovsk.

Analysts said distracting Russian forces from the east is one of the aims of Ukraine’s Kursk operation. But so far, there has been no indication of a let-up in the east.

Russian forces were 10km from the outskirts of Pokrovsk and about 6km from nearby Myrnohrad, according to local officials.

“If the objective was to divert the Russian effort from the Donbas, it’s failed so far,” said Mr Yohann Michel, a French military expert and research fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Defence Studies in Lyon, France.

He added that Kyiv is aiming to maximise the effect of the Kursk offensive while Russia is trying to do the same in Ukraine’s east.

“It’s probably the first one who will blink who will have to stop his own offensive,” he said.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was “not for a second” forgetting about the east and promised fresh weapon deliveries – over what was planned – to strengthen the positions. AFP, REUTERS