Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he had visited the northern Sumy region. It is from this region where Ukraine launched a major incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August.
Almost two months into the surprise operation, Kyiv’s troops control swathes of Russian border territory. The pace of the advance has slowed and Moscow’s forces have begun to counterattack.
“It is crucial to understand that the Kursk operation is a really strategic thing, something that adds motivation to our partners, motivation to be with Ukraine, be more decisive and put pressure on Russia,” Zelenskyy stated.
Shown alongside his top army commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, visiting the 82nd Air Assault Brigade in Sumy, the president thanked the military for defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
He said the incursion, which Ukraine says is bringing war back to Russia, “has greatly helped” Kyiv to secure the latest military support packages from the West.
“We need to motivate the whole world and convince them that Ukrainians can be stronger than the enemy,” he told the servicemen in the border region of Sumy.
Despite the initial rapid success, the Kursk incursion did not manage to significantly distract Russia. Ukraine has lost territory on the eastern front since the assault began.
Zelenskyy discussed the front lines, air defences and the energy situation in Sumy. Russia has been pummeling its electricity infrastructure, leading to power cuts.
Ukraine Pulls Out Of Vuhledar
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian military said it had pulled back from the hilltop town of Vuhledar. The step was taken to avoid encirclement by Russian troops. Putin’s troops closed to within about 7 km of the strategic hub of Pokrovsk further north.
Cyber Security A Challenge
Syrskyi, while in Sumy, emphasised the need to strengthen cyber cooperation. “It is important for us to use all available opportunities to achieve superiority over the enemy, both on the battlefield and in the cyberspace.”
Separately, Syrskyi had said that he recently discussed battlefield and cyber cooperation with General Christopher Cavoli, head of the U.S. European Command, and General Timothy Haugh, head of U.S. Cyber Command.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
