Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday Kyiv’s cross-border operation into Russia was aimed at protecting Ukrainian land from long-range strikes launched from Kursk.
“Ukraine is not interested in taking the territory of the Kursk region, but we want to protect the lives of our people,” foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi told reporters.
He said that Russia had launched more than 2,000 strikes from the Kursk region in recent months using anti-aircraft missiles, barrel artillery, mortars, drones, 255 glide bombs and more than 100 missiles.
Ukraine’s Western partners have said the country has the right to defend itself, including by attacking across the border.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that he backed the Ukrainian operation, though he said Kyiv officials didn’t consult him about it beforehand.
‘Not Interested’ in Taking Russian Territory with Kursk Operation, says Ukraine world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World News Today
