In his evening address on August 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast and the defense of the country near Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast.
“Today we achieved good and much-needed results in the destruction of Russian equipment near Toretsk. Our main task in the overall defense operations now is to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible,” Zelensky said.
“Specifically, it is about creating a buffer zone on the territory of the aggressor – our operation in the Kursk Oblast.”
In his speech, Zelensky also said that the “coming weeks will be crucial for our diplomatic efforts with various partners in Europe, America and the global South.”
“We have already expanded the circle of those who support a just end to this war and will continue to do so. It is vital that Ukraine begins this fall even stronger than before.”
Zelensky’s appeal comes as Russian troops continue their advance near Pokrovsk and Toretsk in Donetsk region. Ukrainian soldiers on the ground say they are short of manpower, ammunition and military equipment, making defending Ukrainian-occupied towns more difficult than ever.
Earlier, on August 11, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said delays in US military aid had contributed to the rapid increase in Ukraine’s budget deficit this year. He also called on Western allies to speed up the disbursement of a $50 billion loan to finance military spending.
On June 13, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) confirmed an agreement on a plan to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan by the end of the year. The loan will be repaid with interest from around $300 billion of frozen Russian assets.
In his speech, Zelensky also said that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi had reported to him earlier in the day about captured Russian prisoners of war, as well as about the equipment of Ukrainian brigades and reserves.
Less than two weeks after the start of Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian troops control about 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory and over 80 settlements in the region and continue to advance, according to the Ukrainian military.
On August 17, Syrskyi reported to Zelensky that the Ukrainian armed forces had “strengthened” their positions in Kursk Oblast.
10 days of the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk – from the first shot to the capture of dozens of settlements
On the morning of August 6, the first groups of Ukrainian soldiers armed with heavy equipment crossed the Ukrainian-Russian border and entered Kursk Oblast. This was the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II. This unprecedented operation surprised the world when Kyiv’s troops repelled the attack.
