August curse strikes again: Putin faces unprecedented territorial loss

August is a miserable month for Russians. As noted by the daily Libertatea, an attempted coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, the sinking of the submarine Kursk, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and financial crises all occurred in August. And now, Putin has become the first leader since Stalin to lose his country's territory.

"The Times" highlights that Vladimir Putin may be the next victim of the "August curse" that has troubled Russia for three decades.

On 12th August 2000, the nuclear submarine Kursk sank, killing 118 sailors. This tragedy occurred just a few months after Putin assumed power, placing him immediately under scrutiny. Although he weathered his first crisis, the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region could pose an even more significant challenge to his administration.

In just a week of fighting, Ukrainian forces advanced up to 32 kilometres into Russia in some areas. This has made Putin the first Russian leader since World War II to lose territory to a foreign army, according to "The Times."

We see how Russia really moves [under Putin’s rule]: 24 years ago, there was the Kursk disaster – the symbolic beginning of his rule; and now we can see what the end for him is. And that is Kursk as well. The disaster of his war, remarked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about Putin's administration.

In addition to the submarine disaster, August has brought Russia terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and financial crises. Last August, the Wagner mercenaries also rebelled and began their march on Moscow.

"The Times" writes that the Ukrainian offensive in the Russian region is a blow to Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin leader is unlikely to change his tactics.

At this moment, the Ukrainian offensive may, paradoxically, benefit Russia. Aleksandr Gabuev from the Russian think tank Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre suggests that many Russians may now align with Putin, believing that the war in Ukraine is necessary to pre-emptively repel an attack from Kyiv and its NATO allies.

According to Gabuev, the Ukrainian offensive is a humiliation for Putin, but it will not have strategic significance in the long term.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry states that it will refrain from attacking Kursk if Russia agrees to a "just peace". Nonetheless, the Russian leader appears unwilling to engage in any negotiations.

What is there to discuss with them? - fumed Putin on Tuesday when Ukrainian troops also entered the Russian region of Belgorod.