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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially confirmed that his country's armed forces are present in Russia's Belgorod province.
Accordingly, President Zelensky said that through the military operation in Kursk, the Ukrainian side has reduced pressure on other areas on the front line, especially in Donetsk. It is extremely important to continue destroying equipment and the entire logistics system used by the Russian army along the front line, Mr. Zelensky added.
In addition, the Ukrainian President said that Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed the presence of Ukrainian troops in the two regions of Belgorod and Kursk in Russian territory.
Mr Zelensky clarified that Mr Syrskyi reported on “the front, our presence in Kursk and our presence in Belgorod”. “We continue to conduct active operations in the border areas on the enemy's territory, and this is absolutely justified — the war must return to where it started,” the Ukrainian president stressed.
Ukraine launched its first surprise attack on Russian territory in the Kursk region in August 2024. Ukrainian officials said the move forced Russia to divert resources from its offensive in eastern Ukraine and that the Russian-controlled territories could be used as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Earlier, the independent online newspaper Euromaidan Press (EP) in Ukraine reported on March 20 that the Ukrainian army launched a surprise attack on Russia's Belgorod province early on the morning of March 18, just days after withdrawing from most of the Kursk region, which they had invaded since August 2024.
Later, Russia's RT channel quoted the Defense Ministry's announcement that the Ukrainian army had launched five cross-border attacks in the Belgorod region, targeting the border villages of Demidovka and Prilesye. The attack began at 5:50 a.m. (local time) on March 18, with the participation of about 200 soldiers and 29 combat vehicles, including 5 tanks, 16 armored personnel carriers and 3 engineering vehicles.
The vehicles involved in the attack bore the white triangular tactical markings – a distinctive sign used by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk operation since August last year.
Videos circulating online showed Ukrainian armored vehicles, including US-made Bradley Fighting Vehicles, surmounting concrete anti-tank obstacles known as Dragon’s Teeth at the border. However, many of the vehicles were hit by Russian artillery fire, some hit mines, and were attacked by Russian drones.
Ukrainian defense analyst Yan Matveev revealed that the main Ukrainian offensive moved from Mariino (Sumy Oblast) across the border towards Demidovka in Belgorod.
