Belgorod Operation-2025: How the Armed Forces broke through the Russian border and the main differences from the Kursk campaign
Deepstate analysts reported that the forces of Ukraine left the village of Demidovka in Belgorod region, located on the border with Sumy region. It was captured as part of the Belgorod offensive operation in March 2025. The focus has understood what the main differences in this offensive operation compared to Kursk, and whether it threatens a new offensive on Ukrainian lands. The first about the new offensive of Ukrainian troops in Belgorod region was declared by Russian projected telegrams.
They stated that the Armed Forces began an offensive in the Belgorod region in the morning of March 18. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that on that day about 5:50 in Moscow time the Armed Forces of Ukraine was up to 200 people tried to break into the territory of the Russian Federation, but "the intersection of the border was not allowed".
According to the journalist Yuri Butusov, the combat operation is conducted by the 225th assault regiment and downed units, including the 33rd assault regiment, the erected Rifle Battalion of the Air Force and the 414th Brigade "Birds of the Magyara". The Ukrainian authorities initially denied the offensive.
In particular, in the morning of March 18, the NSDC Head Andriy Kovalenko noted that the Russians invented the Armed Forces offensive on the Belgorod region, as well as the reflection of this imaginary offensive. However, on the same day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy actually confirmed the actions of the Armed Forces, but without details. "Ukraine performs its task in the Kursk region - the Ukrainian military will be there as long as we need this operation.
As I said, the maximum things were performed by Kursk operation. Our boys stand there in place and not surrounded and show that Putin does not manage, whom, where to go. Steps, as long as the enemy is in our territory, "he said, commenting on a military operation in the Belgorod region. The actions of the Armed Forces are concentrated in the wooded terrain of the Belgorod region, which borders on the Sumy region of Ukraine and the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
The reports mention the villages of Demidovka, Popovka, Counting and Prylissya. The analytical project of Deepstate marked the "gray zone" with an area of 13 square meters. km near Demidovka. Russian sources report the beating of Ukrainian drones and attacks of the Armed Forces in the Belgorod Border. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that their UAVs destroyed the equipment and personnel of the Armed Forces.
On March 20, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed a blow to the command point of the Russian army in the Demidovka area. The Armed Forces were also strengthened by other sites in the Belgorod region: according to ISW, the Armed Forces struck the bridges near the Countess and Nadezhevka, pushing into Demidovka and Popovka.
On March 31, the DEEPSTATE monitoring project published staff of Ukrainian aviation strikes on military facilities in the area of the settlements of Demidovka and Kondrativka in the Belgorod region. According to Alexander Kovalenko, the military-political observer of the Information Resistance group, the only similarity of operations, this is that they are conducted in the Russian Federation.
The Kursk operation was larger in volume, much more forces and means were involved than those we now see in the Belgorod region, Demidovka-Popovka. And the goals of this year's Belgorod operation are completely different. "Kursk operation was a multi -level operation, one of its goals was to charge and roll Russian resources. However, there was still a reputational blow to the Russian Federation itself, and the use of the captured territories of the Kursk for a successful conversation process.
That is, it was a more global operation. The military resource of the Russians, " - said the expert in conversation with focus. According to Kovalenko, this task can be considered successful, as Russia has begun to throw its own troops, namely some units of the 155th Separate Marine Infantry Brigade, 34th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 128th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 83rd Motorilka Regiment. "Epvola", FSB units from Kurschyna not to the Pokrovsky direction, but towards Belgorod region.
That is, the Russian occupation troops did not increase the Pokrovsky direction. According to military expert Oleg Zhdanov, the purpose of the Ukrainian offensive to the Belgorod region is to control the territory of the enemy, to transfer the war to its territory, in order to prevent the nomination of political demands by Russia "peace in exchange in the territory". And also the creation of a buffer zone for Sumy region.
"While our troops are present in the territory of the Russian Federation, Putin does not have the opportunity to say that I take away the territory, I give you peace," says Focus the expert. According to Zhdanov, the main purpose of the operation is not to capture the territory of Russia, but only to keep it for political purposes. Kovalenko also claims that the information silence also worked well during this operation.
Since the onset of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Belgorod region was learned only 2-3 days after the positions were occupied and fixed. Oleg Zhdanov believes that the offensive of the Armed Forces as a whole can be called successful, despite the fact that the Russian army is trying to extract the forces of Ukraine's defense from its occupied positions. "There is not a positional war in Belgorod region, but a maneuver war. Each army has its own control zones.
And there is mainly raid actions, counter -fighting. The Ukrainian army creates a system of supporters to ensure the stability of the control area. Armed Forces, "the expert says. According to him, this offensive does not pose any threat to Ukrainian territories in Sumy or Kharkiv region, because Russians still do not control their own state border. We will remind, on April 26 Russian propaganda announced the "release of" Kursk region.