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“Mission accomplished”: Zelenskyy says Kursk incursion successfully diverted Russians from Pokrovsk

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk a strategic success, claiming the operation forced Moscow to redeploy troops from multiple fronts, preventing Russian forces from capturing the critical Donetsk Oblast city of Pokrovsk.

byOlena Mukhina

14/03/2025

2 minute read

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: President.gov.ua

“Mission accomplished”: Zelenskyy says Kursk incursion successfully diverted Russians from Pokrovsk

On 14 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast achieved its objective, easing pressure from Russian troops on other fronts, according to UkrInform.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ operation in Kursk Oblast is still underway, with ongoing combat and the withdrawal of troops from areas captured in August 2024. Meanwhile, Russian forces are advancing into the border of Sumy Oblast, aiming to sever Kyiv’s supply lines. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, states that fighting continues in the suburbs of Sudzha city in Kursk Oblast and the surrounding areas. The city itself has been almost completely ruined by Russian guided bombs and artillery.

“The situation in Kursk is obviously very difficult. The goal of the operation was to draw Russian forces away from Pokrovsk, the Kharkiv sector, and Sumy. Our troops displayed absolute heroism, taking on a significant blow,” the Ukrainian leader told journalists.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia redeployed forces to Kursk Oblast from both the Kharkiv direction and eastern Ukraine, preventing them from capturing Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

“We understood this strategy. These were strong-willed people who knew there was a chance the Russians would be forced to halt their advance on Pokrovsk. And that’s exactly what happened. The situation there, as well as in the Kharkiv sector, has stabilized,” the Ukrainian president explained.

He added that Russia will now find it “very difficult” to regain the capability to advance on Pokrovsk and thanked Ukrainian troops for their efforts in the Kursk operation.

“I believe the mission is accomplished,” Zelenskyy concluded, though he did not clarify whether Ukrainian forces plan to fully withdraw from Russian territory.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said there was no threat of encirclement of the Ukrainian forces in the region.

Today, US President Donald Trump said the US had “very good and productive discussions” with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are now fully encircled by Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. In this regard, the US president strongly urged Putin to spare their lives.

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