A Ukraine official on Thursday shed some light on the objectives of Kyiv’s armored assault into the Kursk region of western Russia.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak announced during a national TV broadcast that the surprise incursion was launched to boost Kyiv’s position in future negotiations with Russia, Telegram channel Country Politics reported.
The presidential advisor said Russian losses of territory, people and equipment will positively impact potential future negotiations with Russia in the war, launched by President Vladimir Putin in February 2022.
Ukraine’s advances on Russian territory will also “scare” Russians and worsen their attitude towards the Russian leader.
Since the cross-border raid was launched on Tuesday, thousands of Kursk residents have been evacuated, and a state of emergency has been declared in the area which borders Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.
Kyiv’s forces are reported to have occupied at least 11 settlements and the Sudzha gas measuring facility, which facilitates the flow of Russian gas to Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Defense Ministry has since sought to downplay the scale of Ukrainian advances in the region.
This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.
BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images
