Zelenskyj: – Russia should find out what they have done

The Ukrainian president nevertheless did not make any direct comment or reference to the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk.

– Russia brought the war to our country and should know what they have done, says Zelenskyj.

Different versions

At the same time, the offensive in Kursk is in its third day, and there are reports of progress despite fierce fighting. While Russia’s Ministry of Defense and the regional authorities say that the Ukrainian attack has been repulsed, Russian military bloggers paint a more gloomy picture of the situation.

The blogger Rybar, who has close links to the Ministry of Defence, says the Ukrainian forces are advancing and consolidating their positions after reserve forces have entered across the border during the night.

Russia claims around 100 Ukrainian soldiers are participating in the offensive. The Ukrainian authorities have taken a line where they do not talk about the offensive, which started on Tuesday.

– Proud and happy

On the streets of Kyiv, the news from Kursk is welcomed

– To be honest, I am proud of our guys and happy. I believe this was a planned operation. Maybe they used reserve forces, but it was well planned, says Tetiana Krapyvka, who works in the financial sector.

Cultural leader Anastasia Volkova calls the attack against the Russian border region a success for the country’s military forces, “even on the most difficult front section”.

– With these actions, Ukraine is strengthening its ability to defend itself, she says

The IAEA follows suit

Russia’s response to the attack was initially slow, and not until Wednesday evening was a state of emergency declared in Kursk.

According to some sources, Ukrainian reconnaissance forces are advancing towards the nuclear power plant in Kursk. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates that the Ukrainian forces have advanced at least ten kilometers into Russian territory.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is aware of developments around the power plant in Kursk and is following the situation, reports the state-run Russian news agency Ria on Thursday.

EU: – Legitimate defensive war

A spokesperson for EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell says on Thursday that the EU sees the offensive in the Kursk region as part of “a legitimate defensive war” on the part of Ukraine.

– Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russia, including by striking the enemy on its territory, says the spokesperson. He reiterates that the EU gives its full right to Ukraine’s “legitimate self-defence against the aggression” from Russia and will continue to provide “political, economic, humanitarian, diplomatic and military assistance”.