Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces are operating inside Russia’s Belgorod region. In a video address on Monday, Zelensky emphasized that the operation’s “main objective” is to protect Ukraine’s border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, which have come under frequent attack since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
“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,” Zelensky declared. He also acknowledged Ukraine’s limited presence in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops briefly captured several villages last year before Moscow retook most of the area.
The Ukrainian leader credited the 225th Assault Regiment for its role in the Belgorod operation, praising the soldiers’ courage and commitment. However, he did not offer further operational details.
Zelensky’s remarks follow months of speculation, indirect confirmations, and conflicting reports. On 18 March, he had previously alluded to Ukrainian involvement in Belgorod without naming specific deployments. Meanwhile, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated in March that Ukrainian forces had advanced near the villages of Demidovka and Prilesye—just kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
While Russia claims it has repelled all Ukrainian advances, some Russian military bloggers have contradicted official statements, citing battles in Demidovka. In recent days, however, those same sources have reported a possible Ukrainian withdrawal from the area.
Ukraine’s strategy in Belgorod and Kursk appears aimed at forcing Moscow to divert troops from the fiercely contested Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have made gradual gains. Military analysts suggest Ukraine’s cross-border tactics may also provide leverage in potential peace negotiations by holding Russian territory as a bargaining chip.
Still, the incursions remain controversial. Critics argue that these operations stretch Ukraine’s limited resources and come with high casualty risks. Yet for Kyiv, the message is clear: pushing the battle into Russian territory is part of a broader strategy to defend its sovereignty and pressure Moscow on multiple fronts.
