Ukrainian army advances in Belgorod, turns region into _buffer zone_, Putin's plans are thwarted

By making a new breakthrough into Russian territory in the Belgorod region, Ukraine most likely hopes that this operation will improve its negotiating position by capturing more Russian lands. This opinion was expressed by the former senior adviser to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Viktor Nazarov, reports The New York Times.

According to him, such hopes of receiving concessions by taking territories in the Kursk region have faded, since Russian troops have practically recaptured them.

The head of the New Geopolitics Research Network, Mykhailo Samus, suggested that the new operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was apparently aimed not only at strengthening Ukraine's position in the negotiations, but also at blocking a potential new attack by Russia, as well as at diverting Russian troops from other parts of the front.

As he noted, this operation will show that “Ukraine is acting proactively and that Ukrainian arguments must be taken into account.”

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst at Finland's Black Bird Group, said his organization had verified and geolocated several videos that showed Ukrainian forces entering the Belgorod region.

He said Ukraine had managed to "secure a proper buffer zone of defended territory and seize several villages along the border during the first few days of attacks." He added that the village of Demidovka now appeared to be under Ukrainian control.

According to the NYT, Ukraine has not publicly acknowledged a new attack on Russian territory, but three Ukrainian military and government officials have anonymously confirmed that the operation is ongoing in the Belgorod region in southern Russia, not far from territory seized by Ukraine in the neighboring Kursk region.

At the same time, the publication added that “Moscow has not demonstrated a willingness to make real concessions while Ukrainian troops remain on Russian territory, and Kyiv’s new onslaught is associated with obvious risks.”

Let us recall that The Telegraph wrote that Ukrainian troops are advancing deep into the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, despite the Kremlin’s statements about repelling the attack.

It was noted that it is not yet known whether this is a short raid or a long-term operation. At the same time, the Institute for the Study of War reported battles in the villages of Demidovka, Prilesye and Popovka. In parallel, Ukraine continues to carry out pinpoint strikes on Russian command posts, bridges and warehouses