President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will soon be able to retaliate against any part of Russia, emphasizing the nation's resilience on its Independence Day. The ongoing Ukrainian operation in Russia's Kursk region, initiated to protect the Sumy region and capture Russian soldiers for prisoner swaps, is reportedly proceeding according to plan. The first prisoner exchange involving Kursk POWs occurred recently, with each side swapping 115 soldiers. Zelensky denied that Ukraine intends to use captured land as a bargaining chip and reiterated the goal of restoring territorial integrity. The incursion has reportedly decreased shelling in Sumy, and Zelensky visited the border area to meet with top commanders, boosting military morale. Despite these developments, the U.S. maintains restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-provided weapons to specific border areas, denying any policy shift.