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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially acknowledged for the first time that Ukrainian troops are operating within Russia's Belgorod region. This confirmation came during his video address on Monday, April 7, 2025.
"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 stated. His comments referenced both the Belgorod and Kursk regions of Russia.
The Ukrainian leader specifically thanked the 225th Assault Regiment deployed in Belgorod, declaring: "Well done, guys! I'm proud of each and every one who is fighting for Ukraine!" This marks his first explicit confirmation of Ukrainian forces operating there.
Prior to this announcement, on March 18, Zelensky had only indirectly confirmed Ukrainian presence in Belgorod, simply stating "There is an operation there" when questioned by reporters about Russian defense ministry claims of repelled Ukrainian advances.
Russian officials had previously reported Ukrainian attempts to cross into western Belgorod, claiming all advances toward the villages of Demidovka and Prilesye had been thwarted. However, several Russian military bloggers contradicted these reports, describing active fighting within Demidovka itself.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) supported these reports, noting on March 21 that "Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod," though they classified these claims as unconfirmed.
Military analysts believe Ukraine's Belgorod operation is significantly smaller than its 2024 incursion into Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces captured several villages including the town of Sudzha. Recent reports suggest Ukrainian forces may now be withdrawing from the Demidovka area.
Zelensky emphasized that "the main objective" of these operations is protecting Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv border regions while reducing pressure on other frontline sectors, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region where Russian forces continue making slow but steady advances.
"Due to the entire Kursk operation, we have managed to reduce pressure on other frontline sectors, particularly in Donetsk region," Zelensky said. This strategy appears designed to force Moscow to redeploy troops away from Ukrainian territory.
Some military experts suggest these territorial gains could serve as bargaining chips in future peace negotiations. Ukraine might attempt to exchange Russian areas under its control for Ukrainian regions currently occupied by Moscow.
The cross-border operations come as Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory following Putin's full-scale invasion launched in 2022.
