When Kyiv initiated a cross-border raid into Russia’s Kursk region, neighboring Ukraine, some military experts questioned the rationale behind it. Ukraine's primary battlefield challenge is a shortage of manpower, while Russia, with its larger army, is making slow advances towards the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk.
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Deploying hundreds of Ukrainian troops into Russia may seem counterproductive to some observers. However, not everyone shares this view. War expert Kostyantyn Mashovets remarked on Facebook that the raid was part of a deliberate strategy. Military analyst Mykhaylo Zhyrokhov concurred, explaining to the BBC that Russia had to redirect some of its forces from the eastern front line to counter the incursion. This redeployment, he noted, resulted in fewer Russian glide bombs being dropped in the Donetsk area, suggesting that the aircraft carrying them were now engaged elsewhere in Russia.
This operation by Ukraine is unlikely aimed at seizing Russian territory, but it appears successful in drawing Russian forces away from key areas. Historical context might also be influencing Ukraine’s tactics. Russia had previously launched a significant offensive into Ukraine’s north-eastern Kharkiv region, an advance that seemed to slow after the US permitted Ukraine to use its missiles on Russian targets. Over the past three months, fears of a similar Russian attack on Ukraine’s northern Sumy region have increased.
Despite concerns about escalating the conflict, it is probable that Ukraine received some form of approval for this significant operation on Russian soil. Official Ukrainian sources have been tight-lipped about the attack. The president's office only stated, "No comment, yet."
While past incursions have occurred, this marks the first time regular Ukrainian forces have been deployed in such a manner. In Russia, military channels quickly reported the assault, highlighting the involvement of hundreds of troops and multiple rocket and drone attacks. Local authorities promptly announced casualties and evacuations, with neighboring regions ready to accommodate displaced residents. A state of emergency was declared, and Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed troop redeployments towards Sudzha in the Kursk region.
President Vladimir Putin was publicly briefed by his security chiefs, while a Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the raid as "barbaric" and "terrorist." The Russian response suggested it was caught off guard in a conflict that has become all too familiar. Until this incursion, Russia had been steadily gaining territory and outnumbering Ukrainian forces. Now, it faces a new challenge.
The Kremlin is portraying the assault as justification for continuing its war, which it still frames as "defensive." Military analyst Mykhaylo Zhyrokhov noted the numerous questions arising from the events in the Kursk region. For Ukraine, if this operation stalls or prevents a major Russian attack in the north, it will be considered a success. President Zelensky emphasized in his evening address that increasing pressure on the aggressor could bring peace closer: "Just peace through just force."
SOURCE: BBC
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