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In the words of President Zelensky, the Ukrainian armed forces are making “good progress” in their advance towards Russia’s western Kursk region. In an evening video address, Zelensky said the Ukrainian army is achieving its objectives and has been instructed to respect humanitarian law in its operations. “It is important that Ukraine fights according to the rules and that the humanitarian needs in the region are taken into account.”
The emphasis on respecting humanitarian law dates back to the atrocities committed by Russian troops as they advanced towards Kiev some two and a half years ago. In Bucha, a suburb of the capital, large numbers of civilians were wantonly killed before Russian troops had to withdraw from the area.
According to the Ukrainian news agency Uniian, the Zelensky government decided at a meeting to allow international organizations to enter the occupied territories in western Russia. These include the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and other organizations providing humanitarian aid.
In an interview with Russian opposition media outlet Meduza, Ukrainian presidential adviser Myhaylo Podolyak described the operation in the Kursk region. Among other things, the Ukrainian armed forces were instructed to attack and destroy only military targets. Unlike the Russian invaders, Ukraine will not appoint governors in the occupied territories.
The only contact with Russian civilians is through humanitarian aid. Podolak also stressed that “there will be no Bucha on Russian territory.”
Podolak said that the Ukrainian armed forces must consolidate their positions to ensure the success of the operation. This will allow Ukraine to “expand the scope of military operations on Russian territory” and then also be able to send a political message: “Highlighting the failure of the Russian government as a whole, the lack of willingness to make decisions, the lack of willingness to provide assistance. Additional forces and resources are needed to get there. “As a result, the war will spread to the entire Russian territory, Podolak said.
Ukrainian commander General Hirschi reported to Zelensky on the situation in Kursk and other parts of the Ukrainian front. Ukrainian defenders are particularly troubled in the eastern Donbas region as Russian troops increase pressure there.
Shilsky and Zelensky agreed that Ukrainian troops fighting there should receive more weapons systems from the next military aid package from Western partners. No mention was made of whether reinforcements would also be sent to the region – perhaps for tactical reasons.
Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region are said to number nearly 12,000, according to Russian estimates. The commander of Chechen forces fighting in Ukraine, Chechen-born Gen. Apti Alauddinov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said they include foreign mercenaries.
“You hear Polish, English and French voices everywhere,” state agency Tass quoted Araudinov as saying in a television interview. According to him, most of the mercenaries had been “eliminated.” Neither his information nor that of the Ukrainian side could be independently verified.
Zelensky again appealed to his Western partners after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military airfields on Wednesday night. “Our Ukrainian drones work exactly as they are supposed to, but unfortunately there are some things that drones alone cannot do,” he said. “We need another weapon – missile weapons.”
Kiev calls on its Western partners almost every day to allow the use of heavy long-range weapons against military and logistical targets on Russian territory. However, the British and American governments have not yet agreed to this.
Air and missile sirens were triggered in several parts of Ukraine on Wednesday evening. Local media reported a severe explosion in the southern port city of Odessa, believed to be caused by a rocket impact. Two people were injured there, according to authorities. No further details were provided. An explosion was also reported in Sumy in the east.
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