Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian forces have entered Russia’s Belgorod region, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing war.
Ukrainian troops reportedly crossed into Belgorod in late March 2025, reaching areas like Popovka near the border, as geolocated footage from the Institute for the Study of War confirmed. The scope and strategic value of the Belgorod operation remain unclear, including how long Ukraine intends to hold the territory. This is the second confirmed Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory since August 2024, when forces entered the Kursk region.
Zelensky described the cross-border incursions as “absolutely justified,” aimed at protecting Ukraine’s northeastern border regions, particularly Sumy and Kharkiv, which have endured constant attacks from Russian forces. He maintains that the incursion helps reduce pressure on more critical battlefronts in the Donetsk region by drawing Russian forces away.
