News - Media learn purpose of Ukrainian attack in Russia’s Kursk Region

Thousands of Ukrainian troops are taking part in an incursion aiming to destabilize Russia by showing up its weaknesses, a top Ukrainian official has told AFP. “We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilize the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,” the security official said on condition of anonymity. The Russian military reported earlier that about 1,000 soldiers took part in the operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk Region of Russia, but the interlocutor in Kyiv said that they were much more. According to him, the incursion into the Kursk Region significantly raised the morale of Ukrainians. The operation has “greatly raised our morale, the morale of the Ukrainian army, state and society,” the Ukrainian official said, "This operation has shown that we can go on the offensive, move forward." The official said Ukrainian troops would respect international humanitarian law while on Russian territory and had no plans to annex areas they currently hold. "It is very important that Ukraine does not violate any convention. We strictly follow the observance of humanitarian law. We don't decapitate prisoners, we don't rape women, we don't desecrate corpses," he assured. However, Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory did not weaken the attack of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, although the intensity of the attacks decreased a little. The BBC interlocutor admitted that the Russians are not withdrawing their troops from the eastern positions, but the intensity of the Russian attacks has decreased a little.