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ConflictsUkraine

Ukraine incursion into Russia aims to create buffer zone

August 19, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the aim of the surprise incursion into Russia is to create a buffer zone. He said "our primary task is to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible."

https://p.dw.com/p/4jc0U

[Video transcript]

A regular feature on Russian state TV: images of military aircraft in action, the planes attacking military positions and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Often with devastating glide bombs leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Such weapons are difficult to detect, and Russian warplanes often release them quite far from the frontline.

So the most effective option would be to destroy the aircraft and ammunition in the air, or on the ground. 

And this is exactly what Ukrainian forces are trying to do. 

Last week, they launched what they say was the war's largest long-range strike on Russian aír bases with more than a hundred drones. 

Attacking three major airfields inside Russia, those bases hosting warplanes targeting Ukraine with glide bombs and missiles including the hypersonic Kinzhal rockets.

These satellite images show the aftemath of one of the strikes in Borisoglebsk.

At least two hangars were destroyed. Two fighter jets are also visible but it's not clear if they were damaged. 

And this is what happened after a similar drone strike on the air base in Lipetsk earlier in August. 

Hundreds of glide bombs were reported to have been destroyed in the attack. 

Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region is also believed to be helping achieve this goal.

Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman: "Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have the possibility to conduct long-range strikes with the weapons that we possess to defend from the terror. There are no such decisions yet. Therefore, defense forces need to free those border areas from the Russian contingents that carry out strikes against Ukraine."

Some analysts say the incursion can increase Ukraine's range for striking Russian air bases.

For now, western allies are limiting the use of its long-range weapons like ATACMs. 

But Ukraine says, to better counter Russian air strikes, what it really needs is the green light from allied weapons suppliers to use them against targets deep inside Russia. 
 

DIMITRY PONYAVIN
Dmitry Ponyavin Editor, producer and correspondent covering major news stories from around the world.