Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops have been operating in Russia’s Belgorod region, located just across the border from Ukraine’s northeastern regions of Sumy and Kharkiv.
The operations are part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to protect its border areas from Russian incursions.
In a televised address, Zelensky explained that Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had provided a detailed report on the situation in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, both of which have seen cross-border military activity.
While much of the territory in Kursk has been recaptured by Russian forces, Zelensky emphasized the continued Ukrainian presence in both regions, underscoring the importance of the operations for national defense.
“We continue active operations in the enemy’s border areas, and this is absolutely justified,” Zelensky stated. “The war must return to where it came from.”
The president further clarified that the main goal of these operations is to protect Ukrainian communities from Russian occupation, particularly in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, which have long been under threat due to their proximity to Russia.
Zelensky also congratulated the Ukrainian 225th Assault Regiment for its role in these operations, acknowledging their efforts in confronting Russian forces.
Despite Russia’s recent successes in recapturing parts of Kursk, Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian operations had achieved their objective: drawing Russian troops away from the frontlines in Ukraine’s more intense battle zones, like Donetsk.
The president’s remarks came after weeks of unconfirmed reports from Russian military bloggers about clashes in Belgorod.
The confirmation of Ukrainian activity in the region follows last month’s indirect reference to “certain steps” taken by Ukraine in Russian territory, specifically around Belgorod.
Meanwhile, tensions remained high in the area as Russian forces reportedly captured the village of Basivka in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Sunday, a claim that was later denied by Ukrainian officials.
