EU declares Ukrainian actions in Kursk Oblast ‘legitimate self-defense’
The European Union fully supports Ukraine’s “legitimate
self-defense against the Russian aggressor” but refrains from commenting on the
recent events in Kursk Oblast, EU spokesperson Peter Stano said, according to Interfax-Ukraine on Aug. 8.
“According to international law, Ukraine has the right to
self-defense, and this right to self-defense also includes strikes against the
enemy on its territory,” he said, noting that the EU does not comment on
developments on the battlefield because it is not involved in them.
He also added that the EU fully supports Ukraine’s efforts
to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as to combat
Russia’s illegal aggression.
“Our position is set out in a number of European Council
conclusions, and this position has not changed since February 2022: it is full
support for Ukraine in its legitimate self-defense against aggression, and our
support includes political, financial, humanitarian, diplomatic and military
assistance, and this remains unchanged, as was confirmed most recently at the
June European Council,” Stano said.
He also stated that the EU is in constant contact with the
Ukrainian side.
Kursk Oblast raid
Russian propagandists on Aug. 6 reported that the Ukrainian
Armed Forces allegedly entered Suzhansky district of Kursk Oblast. Local newws
outlets reported advance of three Ukrainian Armed Forces tanks with infantry
toward the villages of Kurylivka and Honcharivka. Kursk Oblast authorities
claimed that the “breakthrough of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” had been stopped.
Later, Russian Ministry of Defense, confirmed the fighting
in the region. The head of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, claimed
that Ukraine entered Russia with about 1,000 troops, using Western Stryker
armored vehicles and tanks, as well as UAVs, air defense systems and electronic
warfare equipment.
The Ukrainian side has not officially commented on the
events. NV’s military intelligence source said that no Russian Volunteer Corps
fighters were involved in the events on the border with Kursk Oblast.
The United States claims that it was not aware of Ukraine’s
plans to enter Kursk Oblast, but this does not contradict US policy.
Russian Telgram channel Agency, citing pro-war channels on
Aug. 8 wrote that fighting in Kursk Oblast was taking place about 26 kilometers
from the border, and that Ukrainian troops had probably reached the village
of Ivnytsia and were trying to cut the Sudzha-Lgov highway near the village of
Anastasiyivka.
On the same day, Bloomberg wrote that breakthrough into
Kursk Obalst undermines Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s authority among
Russians and strengthens Ukraine’s position in future negotiations. It will
also strengthen Ukraine’s argument that its American and European allies should
not be afraid of escalation threats from Russia and that it should be allowed
to deal with Putin in any way it sees fit to speed up the end of the war.
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