Ukraine's Tactical Push in Kursk: Zelenskiy Details Counteroffensive

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had anticipated Moscow's counteroffensive in the Russian region of Kursk. Despite initial rapid gains, the situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. Russian shelling has caused casualties and infrastructure damage, while Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian facilities continue to escalate the conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had predicted Moscow's counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region, marking his first comments on the recent pushback. Ukraine's troops launched a surprise raid in early August, capturing an enclave of western Russian territory to divert Moscow's forces from the eastern front.

After rapid initial gains, Ukraine's advance stalled, with the eastern town of Pokrovsk remaining a hotspot for Russian offensive operations in recent weeks. 'The Russians have begun counter-offensive actions. It is going according to our Ukrainian plan,' Zelenskiy announced during a press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Kyiv.

Russian forces have reclaimed about 10 settlements in the Kursk region, according to a Russian commander. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported devastating Russian shelling in the frontline Donetsk region, killing three International Committee of the Red Cross workers and severely disrupting infrastructure in northern Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)