Ukraine’s operation in Kursk Oblast is legitimate and falls under right to self-defense — Stoltenberg

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself. And under international law, this right does not stop at the border,” Stoltenberg said.

At the same time, the NATO Secretary-General noted that the Alliance was not informed of Ukraine’s plans in advance and did not play any role in them.

Stoltenberg emphasized that while Ukraine risks advancing into Russian territory, Kyiv decides how to conduct its military campaign.

“President (of Ukraine Volodymyr) Zelenskyy made it clear that the operation aims to create a buffer zone to prevent further Russian attacks from across the border. Like all military operations, this comes with risks. But it is Ukraine’s decision on how to defend itself,” he added.

Ukraine’s advance in Kursk Oblast

On Aug. 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time the Defense Forces’ operation in Kursk Oblast. He emphasized that the goal of the operation, which began on Aug. 6, is to liberate Ukraine’s border territories from Russian troops that regularly shelled Sumy Oblast.

On Aug. 12, the authorities of Kursk Oblast acknowledged the loss of 28 settlements. Among the settlements under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is Sudzha, where the last functioning transfer point for Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe is located.

On Aug. 20, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Ukraine controls 1,263 square kilometers and 93 settlements in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

On Aug. 25, Zelenskyy reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to advance.

On Aug. 27, Syrskyi stated that Russia had transferred about 30,000 troops to the Kursk direction from Ukrainian territories. According to him, Ukraine now controls 100 settlements and 1,294 square kilometers of Kursk Oblast territory, and 594 Russian soldiers have been captured.

On Aug. 29, BILD reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently took control of the village of Chervonozhovtneve on the banks of the Seym River. Thus, even without taking Korenevo, they completely closed the eastern border of the “cauldron,” where about 3,000 Russian soldiers are trapped. From the south and west, it is blocked by the state border, and from the north, by the Seym River.

On Aug. 30, Syrskyi announced that Ukrainian forces advancedtwo kilometers in the Kursk direction within a day.