Thousands of soldiers are taking part in the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region on Russian territory, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP. “Their goals are to stretch the enemy's positions, cause maximum losses and destabilize the situation in Russia, because they are unable to defend their own border,” the source said. He also assured that Ukrainian soldiers will comply with international humanitarian law.
Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region in Russia on August 6 and have been fighting there ever since. Sunday was the sixth day of the Ukrainian operation on Russian territory. AFP's interlocutor, a senior government official Ukraine – assured that Ukrainian soldiers will observe international humanitarian law on the territory of Russia. He also said that Kiev has no plans to annex the lands it has occupied.
“We are on the offensive. The goals are to stretch the enemy's positions, cause maximum losses and destabilize the situation in Russia because they are unable to defend their own border,” a security official told AFP, requesting anonymity.
READ MORE: Russia sends tanks and evacuates border areas. New news from Kursk region
Ukrainian offensive in Kursk region Reuters
A thousand soldiers? “A lot more”
As AFP emphasized, the Russian army reported that the Ukrainian side had sent about a thousand soldiers to carry out the operation in Russia. Asked whether Moscow's estimates of the number of soldiers were accurate, the agency's interlocutor replied: “There are many more. Thousands.”
Damage after fighting in the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, RussiaReuters, MIC IZVESTIA/IZ.RU
The operation “significantly improved our morale, the morale of the Ukrainian army, state and society,” assessed the representative of the Ukrainian side. “The operation showed that we can go on the offensive, move forward,” he added, assessing that “it seems that the Russians have problems with coordination, readiness for action.”
Asked whether the Ukrainians aimed to capture the Kursk nuclear power plant, he replied: “We will see how the Kursk operation develops.” “We will certainly not cause problems for nuclear security. We can assure you of that,” he said.
READ MORE: Russians shelled Kyiv, Ukrainians hit Kursk
Kursk OblastReuters, MIC IZVESTIA/IZ.RU
Russia evacuates residents from Kursk regionPAP/EPA/GOVERNMENT OF KURSK REGION HANDOUT HANDOUT
“Western partners played an indirect role in planning”
He also said that “it is wrong to say that Western partners did not know about the Ukrainian offensive.” – Judging by how actively Western weapons are being used, our Western partners played an indirect role in the planning, he added.
According to him, Russia “will finally be able to stop Ukrainian forces and will respond with a large-scale missile attack against command centers in Ukraine.”
AFP stressed that the Sumy region, on the border with the Russian Kursk region, is already under more intense bombardment. The Russian army also shelled Kiev at night.
On Sunday afternoon, AFP reported “dozens of Ukrainian army armored vehicles” spotted by its reporters in the Sumy region. The vehicles are marked with a white triangle, used by forces participating in the operation in Russia.
Main image source: Reuters