Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has, for the first time, publicly confirmed that Ukrainian forces are operating within Russia’s Belgorod region, framing the move as part of a broader effort to shift the battlefield back to Russian soil.
“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 said in a televised address on Monday night.
His remarks also included a reference to Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces still hold a small position following an offensive last year. Although Russia has since retaken most of that territory, Ukraine’s presence remains a strategic foothold.
Zelensky explained that the operations across the border are primarily aimed at protecting Ukraine’s own northern regions, particularly Sumy and Kharkiv, and alleviating Russian military pressure on the eastern front, including the fiercely contested Donetsk region.
Last month, Russia’s military reported repelling several Ukrainian incursions into Belgorod, claiming that all attempts to cross the border had been foiled. However, on-the-ground reports, including from Russian military bloggers, indicated that fighting had taken place within villages like Demidovka, located just two kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) backed some of these reports in a 21 March update, stating that Ukrainian troops had recently advanced into Belgorod and were consolidating positions near the villages of Demidovka and Prilesye. These claims, however, remain unverified by independent sources.
On Monday, Zelensky also praised several military units involved in cross-border operations, singling out the 225th Assault Regiment for their deployment in Belgorod. “Well done, guys! I’m proud of each and every one who is fighting for Ukraine,” he said.
Until now, the Ukrainian government had only alluded to its activities in Belgorod. On 18 March, Zelensky acknowledged an “operation” was underway there but stopped short of confirming the presence of ground troops.
Ukraine’s incursions into Russian territory though limited in scale compared to operations in Kursk, where troops once seized several villages including the regional centre of Sudzha appear to serve a dual purpose: drawing Russian forces away from key fronts and potentially creating leverage for future negotiations.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the war continues to mount. In Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, funerals were held earlier on Monday for 20 people, including nine children, killed in a Russian missile strike last Friday.
Speaking to reporters, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over the ongoing conflict, stating, “I’m not happy about what’s going on,” and accusing Russia of “bombing like crazy right now.”
With the front lines constantly shifting and international calls for a ceasefire growing louder, Zelensky’s open confirmation of Ukrainian presence in Belgorod marks a notable escalation—and a clear message that Ukraine intends to take the fight beyond its own borders when necessary.
