On August 6, 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched an offensive operation in the Kursk direction, waging war on Russian territory for the first time. General Oleg Apostol from the General Staff discussed this in an interview with 'Glavkom', sharing details about the preparations and events on the battlefield.
Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, informed the general about the planned operation back in June, but the brigade was delivered to Toretsk due to the difficult situation there, so they did not participate in the initial battles in the Kursk region.
«There is nothing better than taking down the p**ros on their territory. We must take revenge for our people killed by Russia, for the destroyed cities and villages, for our territories», – emphasized the general.
During the operation, Ukrainian forces forced the Russian occupiers to retreat from Sudzhy to Malaya Loknya, where they established defensive positions. Despite the enemy's advantage, Ukrainian troops demonstrated high combat skills, achieving a successful breakthrough.
The general noted that with the involvement of two more airborne brigades in their sector, the troops could have achieved even greater success and controlled a larger territory.
The offensive operation in the Kursk direction is an important stage of the war, indicating the increased activity of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and their readiness to fight on all fronts.