Ukrainian forces are conducting offensive operations in Russia's Kursk region to draw away Russian military reserves and destabilize the situation in Russia, a senior Ukrainian security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“We are conducting an offensive. The goal is to stretch the enemy’s positions, inflict maximum losses and destabilize the situation in Russia, as it is unable to defend its own border,” the official, who asked not to be named, told the agency.
The Russian military previously stated that about 1,000 soldiers took part in the Ukrainian army operation in the Kursk region, but an AFP source in Kyiv said that there were many more.
According to him, the invasion of the Kursk region significantly raised morale among Ukrainians.
“This has significantly raised our morale, the morale of the Ukrainian army, state and society,” the official said. “This operation has shown that we can go on the offensive, move forward.”.
The agency's interlocutor states that Ukraine does not plan to annex any territories during its invasion of Russia.
At the same time, as AFP notes, Ukraine's offensive into Russian territory has not weakened the pressure of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. The agency's interlocutor admitted that the Russians are not withdrawing troops from positions in eastern Ukraine.
