Zelensky confirms full capture of Russian town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Aug. 15 that Ukrainian forces had captured the entire Russian town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian troops had taken control of over 80 settlements in Kursk Oblast during the ongoing operation. Ukraine is establishing a military administration in Sudzha, with General Eduard Moskaliov, a former commander of the Joint Forces, leading the administration.

Ukrainian forces advanced 35 kilometers into Kursk Oblast, controlling 1,150 square kilometers of Russian territory as of Aug. 15. The town of Sudzha is located less than 10 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, while Kursk lies 85 kilometers to the northeast.

The Russian Defense Ministry had reported on Aug. 9 that Ukrainian troops had reached the western outskirts of Sudzha. Ukrainian soldiers later posted video footage claiming to be in the town.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, stated on Aug. 13 that the incursion, which began on Aug. 6, aims to prevent Moscow from sending reinforcements to Donetsk Oblast, disrupt Russian logistics, and halt cross-border attacks. This operation is also intended to support Ukraine’s long-range strikes with Western arms, which are subject to unofficial restrictions from partners.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced on Aug. 14 that Ukraine is creating a "security zone" on Russian territory to protect its border areas. Humanitarian operations, including safe corridors for civilian evacuation, will be established. International humanitarian organizations will also be allowed to enter the area to support the civilian population and monitor the situation.

Ukraine no longer wants to remain “captive” to Western conditions and restrictions on warfare

In a column for the Times, British journalist Roger Boyce highlighted that Ukraine no longer wants to be bound by Western conditions and restrictions on warfare.

Boyce writes that during the NATO summit in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to terms with the fact that Ukraine is unlikely to join NATO in the near future and perceived weaknesses in US President Joe Biden. According to Boyce, the West has imposed numerous restrictions on Ukraine, including conditions on weapon usage to avoid “escalation,” which he considers absurd and detrimental. He argues that these restrictions have drained Ukraine and reduced it to a victim, turning NATO into an Alliance of self-deterrence.

Regarding the Kursk operation, Boyce notes that as Ukrainian forces advance, Ukraine will likely seek to use more Western weapons, such as ATACMS missiles, to strike at Russia. He suggests that the operation in Kursk was designed to capitalize on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strengths—mobility, improvisation, and rapid decision-making—and aims to exploit the uncertainty surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv advances in Kursk but Russians gradually occupy Donetsk Oblast

As the Armed Forces of Ukraine make advances in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Russian forces are countering by seizing new territory in Donetsk Oblast, according to Politico.

While the unexpected success of the Kursk operation has boosted Kyiv's morale, the situation on other fronts has deteriorated. Politico reports that the Russian push has intensified, leading to a worsening situation in some parts of Ukraine’s frontline.

Ivan Sekach, spokesperson for Ukraine's 110th Mechanised Brigade, which is deployed in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast, noted, "I would say things have become worse in our part of the front. We have been getting even less ammo than before and the Russians are pushing."

Recent reports from DeepState indicate that Russia has occupied the villages of Zhelanne and Orlivka and advanced toward New York ( a village in the Donetsk Oblast), Krasnohorivka, Mykolaivka, and Zhuravka in Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian General Staff has not confirmed these developments but continues to report intense fighting in these areas, particularly on the Pokrovsk front.

Kyiv authorities reported on the aftermath of the nighttime Russian attack on the Kyiv Oblast

On August 15, falling wreckage from downed Russian targets caused damage in Kyiv Oblast. According to Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, four houses and one car were affected. The damage was minor, including smashed windows and doors, and roof damage. There were no direct hits on residential or critical infrastructure. All operational groups are on-site, and authorities have pledged to provide necessary assistance to the residents of the damaged buildings.

Ukraine's Presidential Office denies Kyiv's involvement in Nord Stream blasts

On August 15, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv's involvement in the Nord Stream explosions, responding to recent media reports suggesting Ukrainian citizens as suspects. Podolyak emphasized that such an act would require extensive technical and financial resources, which, according to him, only Russia possessed at the time.

This statement followed reports from German media that Berlin had issued a European arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor, Volodymyr Zhuravlov, allegedly linked to the September 2022 explosions. According to the German investigation, Zhuravlov had resided in Poland but returned to Ukraine in July 2024. Two other Ukrainian nationals are also considered suspects.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that six people, including trained civilian divers, allegedly carried out the operation from a rented yacht in the Baltic Sea. The WSJ also claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky initially sanctioned the operation but later ordered it aborted. Despite this, former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi reportedly proceeded with the operation, though the WSJ noted that investigators have not presented evidence of Zaluzhnyi's involvement in court.

Zaluzhnyi and Podolyak have both denied these accusations. Podolyak reiterated that Ukraine had nothing to gain from the explosions and rejected any involvement. The explosions, which occurred on September 26, 2022, targeted three of the four Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines connecting Russia to Germany.

Germany, Denmark, and Sweden conducted investigations into the explosions, but the latter two countries dropped their probes earlier this year. The West and Ukraine have frequently accused Russia of orchestrating the attacks. Some German investigators previously linked the explosions to Ukrainian operatives but did not confirm official Ukrainian authorization. The Polish government has also been criticized for its reluctance to provide evidence to investigators.

Nord Stream 2, completed in 2021 but never operational, faced significant opposition from the U.S., Ukraine, and other European countries due to its potential to increase EU’s energy dependence on Russia.