Zelensky lays out strategy to create ‘buffer zone’ in Kursk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Sunday that one of the strategies behind his military’s incursion into the Russian province of Kursk was to create a “buffer zone.”

Zelensky outlined the goals of the military operation, which Ukraine launched in a surprise counterattack two weeks ago, in a nightly video update that he shared online. He noted his military had achieved “good and much-needed results.”

“All this is more than just defense for Ukraine; it is now our primary task in defensive operations overall: to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions,” Zelensky said. “This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory.”

His remarks came one day after Zelensky observed that his military’s presence in Ukraine was “getting stronger.”

“Now we are reinforcing our positions,” the Ukrainian president said.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykolaiv Oleshcuk also said Sunday in a social media post that the Air Force has been carrying out “precision air strikes” and indicated in a video that it had destroyed a second bridge in the Kursk region.

As Zelensky and his military leaders continue to project confidence about its gains in Russian territory, White House national security adviser John Kirby said Thursday that the impact of Ukrainians’ efforts remains unknown. He also noted that Ukraine had, in any event, caused Russian President Vladimir Putin to order the Russian military to scramble and redirect its troops from Ukraine back into the Kursk region.

“It’s an active dynamic situation, and we’re still watching it,” Kirby said. “But he has diverted some resources to Kursk. It’s not exactly clear with what intent or what effect it’s actually going to have.”

Zelensky also reiterated on Sunday a need for more and expedited supplies from his strongest allies, specifically naming the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

“There are no vacations in war,” he said.

Ukraine’s offensive to overtake portions of Kursk is the first, albeit small, successful operation its military has carried out inside Russian territory since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.