Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has revealed that his forces now control a 90-square-kilometer area within Russia’s Kursk region, where approximately 10,000 Russian soldiers are stationed. In a statement Sunday, Syrskyi described the operation as a “preemptive action” designed to counter a potential enemy attack.
The Ukrainian military claims this bold cross-border operation successfully pins down a significant number of Russian forces, preventing Moscow from redeploying them to the intense battles in the eastern Donetsk region. This comes as Ukrainian troops continue to repel Russian advances along a difficult 1,200 km frontline, where Russian gains in recent months have come at the cost of high casualties.
While battling on the ground, Ukraine is also innovating its air defenses to counter Russia’s relentless drone and missile attacks on its cities. The military reports destroying around 82% of incoming Shahed-type drones. Still, it stresses the urgent need for more advanced missile systems to protect critical infrastructure.
At the same time, Ukraine is taking the fight to Russia through a long-range strike campaign aimed at crippling Moscow’s war economy. Ukrainian officials estimate that these strikes have inflicted over $1.3 billion in direct losses on Russia’s oil and fuel industry between January and May, with at least another $9.5 billion in indirect damages resulting from disruptions and forced shutdowns.
