Kyiv, April 9, 2025 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops are conducting operations inside Russia’s Belgorod region, marking a significant development in the ongoing war more than three years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“We continue to carry out active operations in the border areas on enemy territory, and that is absolutely just – war must return to where it came from,” Zelensky declared in a video address on Monday evening. He also acknowledged Ukraine’s continued presence in parts of Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine to the north.
The Ukrainian leader said the operations aim to defend Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions, which have faced increasing Russian attacks in recent months.
Zelensky said these cross-border actions are also intended to relieve pressure on the heavily contested Donetsk front in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have made slow but steady gains.
While Russia’s Ministry of Defence previously reported Ukrainian incursions into Belgorod last month, claiming all such attempts had been repelled, Zelensky’s statement represents the first official Ukrainian acknowledgment of its troops operating inside Russian territory.
Zelensky praised multiple army units for their role in the operations, including the 225th Assault Regiment, which he confirmed is active in Belgorod. “Well done, guys! I’m proud of each and every one who is fighting for Ukraine!” he said. However, he did not offer further operational details.
The president’s statement follows his earlier, more ambiguous confirmation on March 18, when he told reporters “there is an operation there” after being asked about Russian claims of Ukrainian advances near Belgorod.
Russia has insisted that Ukrainian forces were prevented from advancing toward the villages of Demidovka and Prilesye, close to the border.
However, Russian military bloggers reported direct combat within Demidovka, and the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated in a March 21 update that Ukrainian forces had advanced in the region, although these reports remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
According to ISW analysts, Ukrainian troops currently control approximately 12 square kilometers in Belgorod and around 60 square kilometers in Kursk.
While the operation in Belgorod is believed to be limited in scope, Ukraine’s past offensive in Kursk reportedly seized multiple villages, including the town of Sudzha.
Some analysts have suggested Ukraine’s incursions are strategically aimed at forcing Russia to divert troops from the Donetsk front.
There is also speculation that Kyiv may be seeking to use any territorial footholds within Russia as bargaining chips in potential future peace negotiations being encouraged by the United States.
Despite these strategic considerations, military experts in both Ukraine and the West have raised concerns about the high casualty rates and the challenges of maintaining weapon supplies for operations beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian cost of the conflict continues to mount. Zelensky’s home city, Kryvyi Rih, held funerals on Monday for 20 civilians, including nine children, killed in a Russian missile strike last Friday.
US President Donald Trump commented late Monday, saying he was “not happy about what’s going on” and accused Russia of “bombing like crazy right now,” as diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire continues to mount. The Kremlin has dismissed Western claims that it is resisting efforts to bring the war to a halt.