Ukrainian Armed Forces remain operational inside Russian territory, specifically within the Kursk and Belgorod regions, despite Kremlin declarations claiming their removal. Military expert and war veteran Major Alexey Hetman, speaking with Obozrevatel, clarified the strategic rationale behind this presence, emphasising both military and political motivations.
According to Hetman, Ukrainian forces are not seeking to entrench themselves with heavy defences in these regions. Rather, they operate through mobile, tactical manoeuvres which force the Russian military to divert a substantial number of troops to counter a relatively small Ukrainian presence. This, he explained, creates a crucial buffer zone and disrupts the ability of Russian forces to reinforce other fronts.
Hetman underlined the necessity of shifting the battlefield onto Russian soil. “Until peace is achieved on terms favourable to Ukraine, the war must also be fought on Russian territory,” he said. “The political and military aims are intertwined. This is war, and war is an extension of politics by other means.”
Contrary to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s claims of a “complete liberation” of the Kursk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on 27 April that Ukrainian forces remain active in key zones of both Kursk and Belgorod. He praised the continued defensive efforts in the area.
Earlier, on 26 April, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) carried out a precision strike in Kursk. The 73rd SOF Centre eliminated an entire unit from the Russian 810th Marine Brigade. In addition, they captured two Russian soldiers, evacuating one on a stretcher and escorting the other who surrendered voluntarily.
These strategic incursions underline Ukraine’s growing ability to shape the battlefield beyond its own borders. By forcing Russia to defend its territory, Ukraine not only shifts the psychological burden onto the Kremlin but also stretches its military capacity thin.
