Zelensky explains why he decided to invade Russian territory

During his usual nightly speech to Ukrainians on August 18th, amidst the ongoing assault on Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at the reasons behind Kyiv's choice to enter Russian territory.

Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders have remained quiet about the aims of the incursion into Kursk. However, while speaking in his address he revealed the reasons why Kyiv was targeting the Kursk region of Russia. 

"It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counter-offensive actions," Zelensky explained in his address about the operation. 

"This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory — our operation in the Kursk Oblast,” Zelensky continued, according to a translation of his comments from The Kyiv Independent. 

Zelensky went on to explain that the “coming weeks will be crucial for our diplomatic efforts with various partners in Europe, America, and the Global South,” hinting that Kyiv might be looking for an off-ramp from the nearly three-year conflict. 

"We’ve already expanded and will continue to expand the circle of those who support a just end to this war. It's essential that Ukraine enters this fall even stronger than before." Zelensky added. But will Ukraine's latest moves help it achieve its goals?

Whether or not the decision to invade Russian territory was the right choice for Ukraine at this moment in the conflict is unclear but the move has shaken up months of positive news for Moscow as Russia has slowly etched out victory after victory. 

Russia has had the initiative in the war since Ukraine’s 2023 summer counter-offensive failed. In the months since, Moscow has captured the fortress city of Avdiivka, made gains in eastern Ukraine, and now threatens the key towns of Chasiv Yar and Pokrovsk. 

Ukraine might have opted to launch an invasion into Kursk as a means to slow Russian progress elsewhere on the battlefield, or as a potential land grab that could be traded for territory in a future peace, but the reasons remain unclear even if the attack has been a success so far. 

The operation into Kursk is ongoing but Olga Tokariuk of the London-based think tank Chatham House noted in a recent article the incursion has boosted Ukrainian morale, improved Ukraine's future negotiating position, and brought the war home to Russia. 

The operation does have its risks, however. Tokariuk noted Russia is pulling in soldiers from other fronts which has led to worries about Ukraine’s ability to hold the territory it’s captured. But as of August 19th, things were going quite well for Ukraine. 

According to comments Zelensky made on August 19th, Ukraine was in control of 92 Russian settlements in Kursk at the time and had captured 1250 square kilometers or roughly 482 square kilometers of territory since launching its incursion on August 6th. 

"This operation has become our largest investment in the process of releasing Ukrainians from Russian captivity. We have already captured the largest number of Russian prisoners in one operation," Zelenksy wrote on Telegram, The Kyiv Independent reported. 

More important than the territory Ukraine has already captured is the likelihood that it may take more land in the coming days. Ukraine destroyed three key bridges across the Seym River and has put the troops defending the area in a difficult position. 

A group of Russian soldiers are protecting a pocket of territory between the Seym River, and the Ukrainian border, and recently captured Russian territory—and they are now at risk of being encircled by Ukrainian troops according to the New York Times. 

Photo Credit: Screenshot from X @Osinttechnical

“It is unclear how many Russian soldiers remain in the area between the Seym River and the border with Ukraine,” the New York Times reported. “The territory includes the town of Glushkovo, with a population before the incursion of about 5,000,” it added. 

“Glushkovo is seen as a likely next objective after Ukrainian troops gained control of the Russian town of Sudzha last week,” the New York Times continued. 

How the situation will unfold has yet to be seen, but if Ukraine can capture the newly-threatened area, it would create a dilemma for Moscow and a large buffer zone between Ukraine and Kursk Oblast. 

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