Zelensky Identifies Ukraine's Military Operation in Russia's Kursk as Creating a 'Buffer Zone'

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, stated on Sunday, August 19, that the aim of Ukraine's military assault on the Kursk region in Russia is to establish a buffer zone at the border to prevent further attacks from Moscow on Ukraine. This is the first time Zelensky has clearly articulated the objective of Ukraine's operations inside Russia, which began on August 7. Previously, he had mentioned that the goal of this operation was to protect the residents of the 'Sumy' region from Russian attacks. According to the Associated Press, Zelensky said in his evening address: 'Our main task in the overall defensive operation is to maximize the destruction of Russia's combat capabilities and to carry out maximum counter-offensive actions.' He explained that these actions 'include creating a buffer zone in the territory of the aggressor; our operations are in the Kursk region.' Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine's assault on Kursk is an attempt to 'divert' attention from Moscow's attacks in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and ultimately to gain a better position in negotiations to end the war. Ukraine's attack on the second bridge in Russia; military bloggers: supplying equipment for Russian forces will become problematic. Ukraine continues to advance on Russian territory; Moscow claims Western missiles were responsible for the destruction of the Kursk bridge. Zelensky reported on strengthening the positions of Ukrainian forces in the 'Kursk' region of Russia.