TRANSCRIPT
Thousands of Ukrainian troops have made a surprise advance into Russia's Kursk region - the first invasion into Russian territory since World War Two.
Ukraine's army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, says the operation into Russia's Kursk region has resulted in Ukrainian troops seizing 1,000-square kilometres of Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy says the operation is about restoring justice and pushing the war back into the aggressor's territory.
"It is only fair to destroy Russian terrorists where they are, where they launch their strikes from: Russian military airfields, Russian logistics. We see how useful this can be for bringing peace closer. Russia must be forced into peace if Putin wants to continue waging war so badly."
The historic invasion into Russian territory places Ukrainian troops closer to Moscow than Russian troops are to Kyiv.
However, while Ukraine has now seized a tiny part of Russian territory, Russia remains in controls of 20 per cent of Ukraine.
But Russia's response indicates it was caught off guard by the incursion.
First, Russia made claims it had thwarted Ukrainian efforts in the Kursk Region.
Once it was clear this was untrue, it then began urging the United Nations to condemn what it says was a barbaric attack and gross violation of human rights, before issuing warnings that a response will not take long.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says pushback from citizens has been immediate.
“There is already a response from Russian citizens. This is unanimous support for everyone who is in trouble, support for the army and an increase, which is very important, an increase in the number of people willing to join our men, the fighters who heroically defend Russia with weapons in their hands. The number of those willing to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence has increased in recent days.”
Ukraine has not made clear its intentions moving forward, however there are reports saying Ukraine is pushing into additional Russian territory in Belgorod.
Volodymyr Zelenksyy has himself noted that Russia has attacked Ukraine 2000 times from the Kursk region in the last three months.
Some reports also suggest Russia was planning a push from Kursk into the neighbouring Ukrainian Sumy region, with Ukraine potentially using the incursion as a pre-emptive measure.
International Security Expert at Chatham House Dr Marion Messmer says the move could also be a way to increase Ukraine's leverage in negotiations with Russia.
"My best guess is that Ukraine, on the one hand, wanted to push back against Russia, perhaps to increase any leverage that they might have in any upcoming negotiations. And it also seems to have been an attempt to draw Russian military attention away from where they were pushing ahead. So in a way, I guess it was a gamble to try and open a second front to try and draw Russian military away from where they were making advances against Ukraine and sort of trying to win back territory. And that seems to have worked pretty well. You know, like Russia has had to recommit troops from where they were previously sort of more in the Crimea region and moving on Ukrainian territory in that direction over to their own border."
Russia says Ukraine now controls over two dozen villages in the region and says it has evacuated around 120,000 civilians from the Kursk region.
Russian officials say 12 Russians have been killed and 121 others wounded in the cross-border offensive.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the invasion will not improve negotiations.
“It appears that the enemy is aiming to improve its negotiating positions in the future. Well, what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who launch indiscriminate strikes on civilians, on civilian infrastructure and try to create threats to nuclear energy facilities? What can you talk to them about?”
Earlier this month, Mr Zelenskyy responded to suggestions that territorial concessions could bring the war to an end by saying any agreement to give up Ukrainian territory would require the backing of a referendum.
The news of the seizure has lifted morale in Ukraine and captivated media and governments across Europe and America.
US Senator Lindsey Graham says Ukrainian troops need to be supported by their allies.
"What I think about Kursk? Bold, brilliant, beautiful. Keep it up! (Russian President Vladimir) Putin started this, kick his ass. Bottom line is to the administration - I appreciate your support, let these people fight. Give them weapons they need to win a war they can't afford to lose."
Ukrainians are also revelling in the victory, with some taking the opportunity to reverse Russia's own rhetoric, suggesting Russia should now give up the Kursk region to secure peace.
Lawmaker and farmer Yurii Oliynyk lives in the neighbouring village of Basivka, just two kilometres from the Kursk border.
He says a buffer zone is needed to protect his land.
"Until we push them further away, until there is no buffer zone on the other side of the border, our territory won't be safe. We were asked to stay 2, 5, 10 km away from the border. Imagine the quality of soil here and how many hectares of fertile land was wasted? How can I leave it for those "coyotes" (referring to Russians)? For what? Buffer zone must be established on the other side of the border. We don't need their land, but we will never forgive them."
