14:12 05.09.2024

Zelenskyy: lack of long-range capability led to Kursk operation

2 min read
Zelenskyy: lack of long-range capability led to Kursk operation

The shortage of long-range missiles and projectiles forced Ukraine to think about an alternative defense to prevent the creation of a buffer zone along the border by the Russian Federation, and this led to the Kursk operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"As for the long-range capability. It was this lack of range that made us think. Think every second: what alternative do we have? And this led to an operation in Kursk region. And, by the way, a successful operation," he said in an interview with NBC News.

According to the President, Ukraine lacked long-range weapons, but there was information from Ukrainian intelligence that the Russian Federation was planning to create a buffer zone in the border area.

"Even Putin and his entourage openly stated that they want to build a buffer zone along our border of a certain number of kilometers deep into our state. And we realized that they would not stop," Zelenskyy stressed.

He added that after the Russians stopped their offensive in Kharkiv region, there were signals about the preparation of the Russian offensive in the north of Ukraine.

"And it would be a very serious challenge for us. I know that they [the Russians] have not abandoned these plans [to create a buffer zone]. And then we realized that we needed to carry out the operation accordingly, so that we, not they, would do the buffer zone," the head of state noted.

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