US Senator Claims Ukraine’s Move Into Russian Territory May Change War’s Trajectory

US Senator Mark Kelly said that Ukraine's decision to counter the Russian invasion by starting an operation in Russia itself could change the course of the war. This was reported by Politico on Sunday, August 18, citing Senator Mark Kelly.

130,000 Russians have had to leave their homes and, at this point in this conflict, I think the Ukrainians did something unpredictable that could really change the tide of how this conflict’s gonna play out.

Mark Kelly

United States Senator

At the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there were concerns that an expansion of the war into Russian territory by Ukraine and its allies could trigger a regional or global war. However, the war largely reached a stalemate, until Ukraine's forces advanced into the Kursk region within Russian territory.

When asked whether the Senator was comfortable with American weapons being used on Russian territories, he replied that he was at this point.

I am at this point. The Ukrainians were illegally attacked by Vladimir Putin. ... He is intentionally killing women, children, old people. It was an illegal invasion. This incursion, and I’ll just, let’s characterize it that way for now. I don’t think the Ukrainians want to intentionally hold Russian territory for a long period of time, but this really set Putin back on his heels.

Mark Kelly

United States Senator

Senator Mark Kelly is not the first Senator to support Ukraine’s incursion of the Kursk region. US Senator Lindsey Graham called Ukraine’s incursion “brilliant“ and “bold“ during his recent visit to Kyiv on August 12.

On August 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially announced that Ukraine is carrying out an operation in the Kursk region.

Recent reports indicate that Ukraine is now in control of 82 settlements, covering around 1,150 km² of Russian territory. Zelenskyy also mentioned that hundreds of Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukrainian forces.