Ukraine's Kursk operation to have major consequences, including for national defense — Ukrainian MP

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"We have finally realized that only by pursuing our national interests and doing everything possible to win not only on the territory of Ukraine, but also on the territory of the enemy, we will be able to change the course of this war. We must do everything possible for our victory. We are very grateful to our partners and will listen to their advice, but we will do everything we have to," explained Kostenko.

According to the MP, the fighting in the Kursk region may change the course of the war.

"It was very challenging for us to seize the initiative in the Pokrovsk direction or near Kupiansk with the number of brigades we have. In the Kursk region, we have managed to impose our will on the enemy, forcing them to respond. We must remember the thousands of kilometers of border where similar actions can be carried out. To counter such events, the enemy will need to mobilize or redeploy troops from other areas. One additional point is that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation will have significant consequences, particularly for the defense of our country. I won't discuss future plans in detail, but even if the Ukrainian Armed Forces decide to withdraw from the territory of Russia, this operation will already be historic," he added.

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.