President Zelenskyy confirms Ukrainian military operation in Russia

On August 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces were actively participating in the surprise offensive in Russia's Kursk region.

This announcement came as attacks on the border region persisted and local authorities raced to evacuate civilians, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

Russian forces were in the midst of their sixth consecutive day of fierce combat against Ukraine's largest incursion into Russian territory since the war began, with southwestern Russia facing significant vulnerabilities before reinforcements began to arrive.

In response to the escalating situation, Russia enacted a broad security regime in three border regions on August 10. Additionally, Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, deployed additional troops to its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of airspace violations.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy revealed that he had consulted with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi about the ongoing operation, reaffirming his commitment to seeking justice following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Today, I received detailed updates from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi about the front lines and our efforts to advance the war into the aggressor's territory," Zelenskyy stated. "Ukraine is demonstrating its ability to restore justice and apply the necessary pressure on the aggressor."

Russia's defense ministry reported that overnight, they had destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles over the Kursk region, and intercepted 18 drones over other frequently targeted Russian areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Ukrainian offensive—which analysts suggest caught the Kremlin by surprise—as a serious provocation. On August 7, Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, claimed that the attacks had been repelled, though Ukrainian forces have not been pushed back across the border.

The Kursk region was subjected to a massive attack from Ukraine on August 6. The Defence Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces attempted to breach the border using tanks and armoured vehicles. Four more drones were shot down over the region. Acting Governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, stated that he had a phone conversation with the president during the night, briefing him on the situation in the region.