Ukraine minister says Kursk attack aims to protect border area

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Washington, U.S., July 2, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov told a visiting delegation of U.S. congressmen on Wednesday that Kyiv's attack on Russia's Kursk region was intended to protect Ukraine.

Referring to Kursk region, Umerov was quoted as saying in a statement released by his ministry: "Our goals there are to clear the border from Russian military threats and make enemy shelling and attacks on our towns and villages impossible."