Ukraine is not interested in taking Russia's Kursk territory, MFA says

Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi said this at a briefing, Suspilne reports. 

"Ukraine is not interested in capturing the territory of the Kursk region, but we want to protect the lives of our people," the spokesman explained. 

He reminded that Russian forces are shelling the territory of Ukraine, in particular Sumy region, from Kursk region. Since the beginning of the summer, more than two thousand attacks have been recorded using multiple launch rocket systems, cannon artillery, mortars, drones, guided bombs and missiles. 

According to Tykhyi, since Ukraine does not have the capability to conduct long-range strikes on Russian territory, there is a need to liberate the border areas from Russian military personnel who strike at Ukraine. At the same time, the operation in Kursk helps the frontline, as it prevents Russia from deploying additional units to Donetsk region and complicates logistics. 

The spokesperson said that Ukraine "is achieving the relevant goals in the Kursk region and will continue to do so". There are already reports that Moscow is concerned that the operation is taking place without violations of humanitarian law, which the Russians would like to use in their propaganda. Accordingly, there are suspicions that Russian troops may resort to provocations and false flag operations. 

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces are targeting only military forces and military contingents. This is very important. And the purpose of this operation is to save the lives of our children, to protect the territory of Ukraine from Russian attacks," Tykhyi stressed. 

He added that Russia brought the war to the territory of Ukraine, so it is only fair that it will return to the territory of Russia. Therefore, the sooner the Russians agree to a just peace, the sooner the raids on Russian territory will stop. 

"As long as Putin continues this war, he will receive such responses from Ukraine. These are absolutely legitimate actions of Ukraine, in particular within the framework of exercising the right to self-defense," Tykhyi concluded.

Ukraine’s cross-border incursion in Russia’s Kursk region

On August 6, the authorities of Russia's Kursk region stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly tried to break through the Russian border, but were allegedly pushed back. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that "the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated to its territory.”

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate refused to comment on the statements regarding the Kursk region. However, NV media, citing its own source in Ukrainian intelligence, wrote that the events in the Kursk region "definitely did not involve fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who are fighting as part of Ukraine's Armed Forces.”

The Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russian Defense Ministry, acting governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov, and some propagandists have different versions of the events in the Kursk region.

On August 7, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin convened the Russian military leadership to discuss the situation in the Kursk region, which he called a "large-scale provocation." At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international community to "strongly condemn the Kyiv regime's criminal attacks on Russian territory."

On the same day, Russian media reported that workers at the Kursk nuclear power plant feared that the plant's management had not prepared for a possible attack by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Additionally, in the Kursk region, the Russians have started forming UAV operator units from civilians, providing them with up to 10 hours of training.

On August 7, a state of emergency was introduced in the Kursk region.

On August 8, the Institute for War Studies reported that Ukrainian troops confirmed advancing up to 10 km deep into the Kursk region as mechanized offensives continued.

On August 8, Russia’s National Guard announced that it had implemented additional security measures at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant to protect a "particularly important facility."

The Washington Post reported that Ukraine has taken control of the gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk region. Previously, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had occupied several border villages and part of the town of Sudzha.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Ukraine’s actions in the Kursk region in Russia "are consistent with U.S. policy" and do not cause any escalation.

On Friday, August 9, it was reported that terrorists from PMC Wagner intend to fight for Russia in the Kursk region.