In the midst of the intense fighting in Russia‘s Kursk Oblast, one soldier’s voice stands out. Yevhen, a Ukrainian fighter, finds himself at the heart of his country’s most daring military operation yet. For soldiers like Yevhen, being a part of the Kursk offensive is a dream come true. As a journalist, speaking with him was equally exhilarating, although arranging our conversation proved to be a challenge. Yevhen’s military duties keep him constantly on the move, and it took two days for him to set up a stable communication terminal upon his return to Ukraine. Just as we were about to talk, a sudden meeting call interrupted our plans, leaving me eagerly awaiting his return. When we finally connected, Yevhen shared that the Kursk operation had cancelled his first leave home this year. However, he had no regrets and joked that he got an “overseas vacation” instead. To maintain authenticity, Euromaidan Press presents our conversation with minimal edits, providing readers with a direct insight into the experience of a Ukrainian soldier. The Kursk offensive in Ukraine exceeds all expectations The Kursk Oblast offensive caught everyone by surprise, including our own commanders. While I am not privy to the planning, it is clear that it has surpassed all expectations. “Right now, everything is going very well. It is hard and difficult, but also very good.” Initially, we encountered no resistance from the Russian forces at the border. “They fled because their defense and security forces were not prepared for an offensive. But it is not true that we only faced conscripts – there were also professional soldiers.” The Russian forces we have encountered are diverse, consisting of a mix of reserves, conscripts, and Kadyrovites (Chechen troops loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov). Their responses have varied – some have fled, while others have engaged in combat. Kadyrovite units still occupy certain areas and are offering resistance as we advance. Contrary to rumors, no forces were abandoned. “It is not as easy as TikTok shows. The Russians can fight, but so can we. This war is tough.” We have captured numerous prisoners, and it is worth noting that the defensive infrastructure was limited, with anti-tank obstacles like Dragon’s teeth only sparsely deployed in select areas. Local reactions in Kursk Oblast: Caught between the USSR and Ukraine The reactions of the locals have been quite diverse. “Surprisingly, some even speak Ukrainian fluently – better than some people in Kyiv.” In these remote areas, time seems to have stood still. They still have the Party, Central Committee, and Lenin – not much has changed since Soviet times. Some residents seem uncertain about their current government. “But fundamentally, people here are just like people everywhere – they walk, they watch, they eat, they breathe.” I have not observed any large-scale organized evacuation of civilians. Ukraine’s strategic push I believe that the goal of the Kursk offensive is to exchange territories. We are capturing as much as possible for future negotiations, including the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.
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