Ukrainian offensive in Kursk leaves Russia reeling, Putin silent
Ukrainians have taken the war to Russian territory. Fighting has been ongoing in the Kursk region since last Tuesday (6 August). This strike completely took aback the Russians. Vladimir Putin suddenly disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He has only addressed the nation once following Kyiv's strike. What is happening?
Since Tuesday (6 August), the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been conducting operations on enemy territory, specifically in the Kursk region. Recordings have surfaced online showing Ukrainian soldiers capturing new footholds and smaller towns near the border.
For the Kremlin, this attack is a complete surprise. The actions of the Ukrainian forces are very dynamic. So far, the Russians are finding it very difficult to counter them. Vladimir Putin participated in a government meeting on 7 August. The dictator claimed that the adversary's actions were a terrorist operation. He spoke of a large-scale provocation. However, he has only commented on Ukraine's attack once, on 7 August. After that, Putin suddenly disappeared. As noted by "Fakt", other representatives of the Russian regime have spoken about the Ukrainian offensive.
Ukraine attacked Russia. Kremlin reacts
According to the latest information, over 76,000 people have been evacuated from border regions in Russia due to the attack. Three days after the operation began, Moscow declared an "anti-terrorist operation" in three areas bordering Ukraine - Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk.
The goal is to stretch the enemy's positions, inflict maximum losses, destabilize the situation in Russia - because they are unable to protect their own borders - and to shift the war to Russian territory, quoted by AFP.
According to experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), who published a report on the situation in Russia on Monday (12 August), the Ukrainian offensive has allowed them to gain the initiative on one of the front segments. Until roughly last November, the Kremlin dominated the front.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian military command likely incorrectly assessed that Ukraine lacked the capability to contest the initiative, and Ukraine's ability to achieve operational surprise and contest the theater-wide initiative is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions underpinning current Russian offensive efforts in Ukraine, claim American analysts.
They believe Putin will have to make a decision regarding war priorities - whether he will allocate more resources to defending Russia's border or continue to push to capture more villages and towns in Ukraine.
