Ukraine says it wants to thwart Russian attacks, not permanently occupy Kursk region | DW Analysis

Ukraine says it does not want to permanently occupy Russia's Kursk region. After launching a major offensive into the territory last week, Ukraine says its intention is to thwart Russian attacks on its territory, and to pull Russian military resources away from the Ukrainian frontline.

Russia's defense ministry has released footage of what it says are operations against Ukrainian forces operating inside the Kursk region close to the Ukrainian border. Analysts say Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 25 kilometers into Russian territory.

Russians displaced by the fighting are arriving in the capital Moscow. More than 130,000 people have already been forced from their homes, with another 60,000 in the process of leaving on Tuesday.

Russia's foreign intelligence service has accused Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of taking "insane steps" that threaten an escalation of their conflict far beyond the region. Zelenskyy says his troops are now taking the war to Russia where they say they control a thousand square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region.

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