Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly acknowledged for the first time that his troops are active in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. "We continue to carry out active operations in the border areas on enemy territory, and that is absolutely just - war must return to where it came from," he said on Monday.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops have been active in Russia’s Belgorod region as they seek to protect Ukrainian towns near the border.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged explicitly for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops were present in Russia's Belgorod region in order to protect Ukrainian towns near the border.