Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces are conducting operations within Russia’s Belgorod region.
In his nightly address on Monday, April 7, 2025, Zelensky stated, “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.”
He emphasized that these actions aim to protect Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv border regions and alleviate pressure on other parts of the front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region.
Zelensky acknowledged the presence of Ukrainian troops in both the Belgorod and Kursk regions, noting that operations in these areas serve to divert Russian military focus from critical Ukrainian fronts.