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ZELENSKY ADVISOR ON THE GOALS OF UKRAINE’S INCURSION INTO RUSSIA  
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Elizaveta Antonova
August 15, 2024
Meduza
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_ To find out about how the Ukrainian army’s foray into Russia’s
Kursk region could change the tide of the war, Meduza special
correspondent Elizaveta Antonova spoke to Mykhailo Podolyak, the top
aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. _

Mykhailo Podolyak,

 

Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has four
key political aims, but holding territory isn’t one of them, top
Ukrainian presidential advisor Myhailo Podolyak told Meduza
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an interview. “Ukraine isn’t setting itself the goal of occupying
this territory, but is waging a defensive war and only destroying
military facilities,” he said. 

According to Podolyak, Ukraine aims to push back Russian artillery to
protect its civilian population from shelling and to cut off logistics
routes that allow Russia to move reserves across the 1,000-kilometer
(600-mile) front line. The operation also aims to highlight the
failure of Russia’s military and civilian leadership, he said:
“Once again, their actions prove they have little control over the
situation. In this sense, little has changed since the Wagner march
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2023. Accordingly, it should be obvious to our [international]
partners that Russia isn’t strong enough to control the internal
risks that are gradually increasing due to the war.”

Finally, Kyiv aims “to shift the war to Russia’s territory,”
Podolyak said. “Upon entering the Kursk region, we saw how shocked
people were
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live in an alternate reality. To them it seems the war is taking place
next door, on the territory of European countries, and they face no
risks. Now, they’re seeing a completely different situation. Of
course, all this will have serious social consequences for Russia,”
he explained.

Podolyak declined to comment on the offensive’s military aims.
“Only the military command can comment on military goals. Of course,
no one is going to talk about this publicly during the operation
itself,” he said.

The Kursk gambit: A week on, Moscow has yet to halt Kyiv’s
unexpected incursion, but Russian pressure hasn’t let up on the
front lines in Ukraine
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According to Russian officials
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the fighting in the Kursk region has killed at least 12 civilians and
injured 121 others. Russia has evacuated more than 120,000 residents
from border regions and ordered the evacuation of around 180,000
people in total. Another 2,000 people living in areas now under
Ukrainian control are officially considered missing. 

However, Podolyak said that Kyiv “does not intend to establish any
occupation administrations.” According to the Zelensky advisor, some
residents may be evacuated to other parts of Russia via humanitarian
corridors, and Kyiv also intends to provide civilians with
humanitarian aid. “Ukraine will not wage war on the civilian
population,” Podolyak stressed. “We are fighting a war under
conditions of scarcity [of resources] and the main thing for us is to
achieve military objectives — that is, to destroy military
facilities.”  

Podolyak said he wasn’t aware of any civilian casualties in the
areas controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that if there
are any victims, “they will be identified.” At the same time, he
argued that Russian officials should have organized evacuations more
effectively. “[The Russian authorities] postponed statements and
necessary decisions, all while trying to sugarcoat the situation in
the region. All of this leads to certain humanitarian risks. But these
risks are due to Russia’s unwillingness to acknowledge that the war
is taking place on Russian territory,” he said. 

Asked whether Ukrainian forces are trying to establish a permanent
foothold
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Kursk region, Podolyak was evasive. “If such an opportunity
[arises], you do it — you dig in. You build fortifications, bring in
reserves, and, most importantly, ensure logistical connections on site
with the main forces,” he said. 

“Again, from a military perspective, I’m not ready to say whether
Ukraine needs [to dig in] or not. But from the perspective of [...]
the operational situation on this front, of course this needs to be
done, because it allows us to expand the theater of military
operations on Russian territory, [which] makes it possible to scale up
[our] political objectives.” 

After Kyiv advanced into Russia, President Vladimir Putin ruled out
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But the way Podolyak sees it, there was no real possibility of peace
talks anyway. “[Putin] never proposed negotiations in the classical
sense. He always suggested capitulation on the Russian Federation’s
terms. Of course, no one will accept these conditions,” he told
Meduza. “No one will negotiate with Putin on Putin’s terms.” 

Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very
start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we
firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s
censorship with the truth. Donate today
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According to Podolyak, Ukrainian officials believe that Russia will
only come to the negotiating table once the Kremlin “realizes that
the cost of the war for [Russia] is increasing.” “What’s
happening in the Kursk region is yet another military defeat for the
Russian Federation. Will this instrument of coercion [...] lead to
negotiations? Not on its own, but in combination with other factors it
will,” he said. “We’re ready for negotiations, but on the basis
of international law,” Podolyak added.

Podolyak also said that Ukraine is prepared to carry out the
“broadest possible” prisoner exchange. Earlier this week,
President Zelensky said that Kyiv planned to exchange
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of Russian soldiers” who had surrendered during the Kursk offensive
for Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in Russian captivity. “We’re
always ready for a broad exchange,” Podolyak said. “And since our
exchange fund is being replenished with conscripts
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Russia will probably need to bring back people who are 18–20 years
old and who were guaranteed they wouldn’t participate in
combat.” 

In a statement yesterday, Zelensky recalled
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Kursk submarine disaster, which killed 118 Russian sailors 24 years
ago this week. Asked if the Ukrainian military timed the surprise
offensive in the Kursk region to coincide with this anniversary,
Podolyak claimed he “didn’t see any symbolism” in the attack
itself. 

“I see symbolism in the fact that Putin’s rule began with the
submarine disaster,” he explained, comparing the Russian
president’s mishandling
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the crisis with his attitude towards the civilian population of the
regions bordering Ukraine. “Absolute indifference and unwillingness
to offer any significant assistance [has] characterized the entire
period of Putin’s reign. And, of course, this is very symbolic,”
Podolyak said. “However, Ukraine has nothing to do with this
symbolism. For us, it’s important to time our operations so
they’re effectively prepared and produce the necessary result.” 
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‘A crime against their own people’ A Sudzha resident on how the
Russian authorities stood by silently as civilians fled the Ukrainian
advance
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Interview
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ANTONOVA summarized for Meduza-in-English by EILISH HART. Read the
entire interview
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* Ukraine
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* Russia
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