Zelensky Confirms Ukrainian Troops Operating Inside Russia’s Belgorod Region

In a significant admission, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces are actively operating inside Russia’s Belgorod region—a bold move aimed at defending border towns in Ukraine’s northeast.

During his nightly video address on Monday, Zelensky acknowledged Ukraine’s military presence not just in Belgorod, but also parts of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have remained eight months after a cross-border operation.

“We continue active operations in the enemy’s border areas and this is absolutely justified,” Zelensky said. “The war must return to where it came from.”

He emphasized that the ultimate goal is to protect Ukrainian communities near the border, especially in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, which have faced consistent attacks from Russian forces.

Zelensky praised Ukraine’s 225th Assault Regiment, crediting them for their ongoing operations in the area and noting the strategic impact of the campaign.

“The Kursk operation helped reduce pressure on other frontline sectors, particularly in Donetsk,” he said.

The tactic of stretching Russian forces thin by creating pressure along the border may offer Ukraine a slight edge as the war grinds on with no clear end in sight.

While this marks the first direct acknowledgment of Ukrainian boots on Russian soil in Belgorod, Zelensky had previously made vague references to Ukrainian military activities “a little below the Kursk region.”

His comments now confirm what Russian military bloggers and observers have reported for weeks: fighting inside Belgorod between Ukrainian and Russian troops.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high across the border. On Sunday, Russia claimed its forces had seized the village of Basivka in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, near the Kursk border. Ukrainian officials, however, denied the claim on Monday, calling it disinformation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long floated the idea of carving out a buffer zone along Russia’s western border to shield its territory from Ukrainian attacks. But the latest developments suggest that Ukraine is taking the fight to Russia instead—at least tactically and symbolically.

Zelensky’s confirmation marks a notable shift in how Ukraine is conducting its defense strategy, signaling that cross-border raids may become a regular part of Kyiv’s playbook. The move may not only bolster morale at home but also keep Russian forces on edge far from the main front lines.

As the war evolves, so too do the boundaries—both literal and strategic—between the two nations.