Kyiv (Ukraine Capital): Russia has redeployed approximately 30,000 troops to Kursk Oblast in response to Ukraine’s ongoing incursion, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. This redeployment is aimed at countering Ukraine’s operations, which have gained control of 1,294 square kilometers, including 100 settlements, and have resulted in the capture of 594 Russian soldiers. The Kyiv Independent has not verified these claims.
At the “Ukraine 2024. Independence” forum in Kyiv, Syrskyi stated that Russia’s most combat-ready units are now concentrated in the Pokrovsk sector. He added that while Russian forces have reduced activity in Ukraine’s south, they continue to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and are trying to regain positions near Robotyne. In Kherson Oblast, Moscow’s forces are attempting to reclaim control of an island area near the Dnipro River delta.
Ukraine’s First Ballistic Missile
Ukraine successfully tested its first domestically produced ballistic missile, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the same forum. Although details on the missile were not provided, Zelensky praised the Ukrainian Defense Industry for the project. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov emphasized that Ukraine is developing its own weapons in response to Russian aerial strikes, highlighting the need for long-range capabilities.
Victory Plan in September
President Zelensky also revealed plans to present a victory proposal to U.S. President Joe Biden in September. This plan, which includes Ukraine’s ongoing operations in Kursk, aims to pressure Russia into ending the war through diplomatic means and economic strategies. Zelensky has repeatedly urged Western allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons inside Russian territory, arguing that these limitations hinder Ukraine’s war effort.
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