“We will continue to take active actions in the necessary way to defend Ukraine. Forces and resources are prepared. Deep strikes are planned,” Zelensky said on social network X on August 31, after a meeting with Oleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Earlier, the Ukrainian General Staff (led by Syrsky) announced that the Russian military’s spring-summer 2025 campaign had ended without any major results.
It is unclear whether Ukraine plans to “strike deep” against Russia with infantry or long-range weapons, according to Reuters.
In August, Ukrainian forces repeatedly launched UAVs to attack energy infrastructure, causing some losses to Russia.
In August 2024, Ukraine launched a cross-border offensive and took control of part of Russia’s Kursk province. In March 2025, Ukrainian forces were driven out of Kursk by Russian troops.
Responding to reporters on August 31, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kiev government was showing a “stubborn” attitude and that it was a big mistake, making the situation in Ukraine worse.
According to Mr. Peskov, Europe is encouraging Kiev to “continue its stubborn course”, while Russia is ready to solve the problem through political and diplomatic measures.