Zelensky explained why the AFU launched an operation in the Kursk region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine was forced to start an operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation due to a lack of long-range weapons.

As reported by "Hvylya", he said this in an interview with NBC News.

According to Zelensky, the lack of long-range capabilities forced them to consider alternatives, which led to the operation in the Kursk region.

"And by the way, this was a successful operation. Initially, we expected that long-range weapons would be in limited supply. We lacked funds and didn't have many long-range missiles and shells. We understood our situation and the fact that Russia plans to create a buffer zone. Even Putin himself and his entourage stated that they want to build a buffer zone at our border for a certain number of kilometers within our country.

In addition, Zelensky reminded that the Russians made a breakthrough in the Kharkiv region.

Thank God, we managed to stop them there and did not let them occupy Kharkiv. After that, we received signals that they could do this in the north: Sumy region, Chernihiv region. And for us, this would be a very serious challenge," emphasized the leader of Ukraine.

Zelensky also emphasized that the Russians have not given up on these plans.

I know that they have not given up on these plans. And then we understood that we needed to conduct an operation so that they would not create a buffer zone in our territory, but we would create one in theirs. So that we would not be repelling their attacks, as it was in Kharkiv, losing territories and people, but on the contrary, doing something unexpected. And this operation emerged," he added.

Recall that Zelensky commented on the large-scale personnel changes in the government of Ukraine.