Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops are actively operating in Russia's Belgorod region, marking a rare admission of cross-border incursions and signaling a broader strategy to push the war beyond Ukraine's own territory. The acknowledgment came during Zelensky's nightly address on Monday and followed weeks of battlefield reports from military analysts and Russian sources.
"We continue to carry out active operations in the border areas on enemy territory, and that is absolutely just-war must return to where it came from," Zelensky said. He added that the operations aim to defend Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions and relieve pressure on eastern fronts, including Donetsk.
Zelensky's comments also referred to Ukraine's limited but ongoing presence in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces briefly seized several villages last year before most of the territory was retaken by Russia. Ukrainian officials previously avoided confirming these incursions directly, though reports of fighting near Belgorod have circulated since March.
"Including our presence in the Kursk and Belgorod regions," Zelensky said, citing a briefing from General Oleksandr Syrskyi. He commended the 225th Assault Regiment deployed near Belgorod, adding, "Well done, guys! I'm proud of each and every one who is fighting for Ukraine!"
The move comes amid intensified Russian shelling across Ukraine. Last Friday, a missile attack on Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih killed 20 civilians, including nine children. Russia is "bombing like crazy right now," U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday, expressing frustration over Moscow's actions as Washington pushes for a ceasefire.
Ukraine's cross-border strategy appears designed to force Russia to divert forces from more critical battlefields in the east. "Our main objective remains the same: to protect our land and our communities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions from Russian occupiers," Zelensky said.
Russian officials claim Ukrainian advances toward villages such as Demidovka and Prilesye were repelled. However, geolocated footage and independent analysts have reported fighting inside Demidovka, a contested "gray zone" approximately two kilometers from the border. The Institute for the Study of War noted that "Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod," citing Russian military bloggers who claimed Ukrainian troops were consolidating positions near the village.
In the past 48 hours, however, some Russian sources have reported that Ukrainian troops may be withdrawing from parts of Demidovka. The scale of Ukraine's presence in Belgorod is still believed to be limited compared to previous operations in Kursk, where Kyiv temporarily controlled the town of Sudzha.
Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi of the Black Bird Group said Ukraine's actions in Belgorod likely serve tactical purposes, not territorial ambitions. "The Ukrainians may be able t take some additional villages in the border area or launch new incursions in other directions, but I would only expect to see small tactical success," Kastehelmi told Newsweek. He also questioned whether the incursions have had lasting strategic effect, noting the strong Russian presence and lack of surprise.
