Ukraine had carefully planned its offensive before breaching the Russian-Ukrainian border in the Kursk region. According to Bloomberg, citing a Western official, various scenarios for this operation were discussed over an extended period. The border breach marks a significant development in the war, being the first military incursion into Russian territory since World War II. NATO, however, has maintained a cautious stance, refraining from direct comments on the event.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell described the attack on the Kursk region as part of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. He stated that Putin has been unable to break Ukraine’s resistance, and now faces the need to retreat back to Russian territory. This situation creates a serious dilemma for him, as Ukrainian forces continue to target key positions in Kursk.
U.S. President Joe Biden also commented on the situation, emphasizing that the offensive presents a real dilemma for Putin. He added that the United States remains in constant contact with Ukrainian partners, although details of the operation are not yet disclosed.
Ukrainian aviation has actively participated in the battles in the Kursk region. For instance, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian command post in the village of Tetkino, located a few kilometers north of the front line. Notably, this raid was carried out by an older Su-27, rather than one of the newly delivered F-16s. Despite this, the risk to Ukrainian aviation remains high due to the dense air defense systems deployed by Russian forces.
In response to Ukraine’s push into the Kursk region, Russia has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Ukraine to bolster defenses in Kursk. According to WSJ, this indicates the seriousness of the Ukrainian offensive and forces Russia to regroup its forces, which might create new opportunities for Ukraine on other fronts.
In summary, the Ukrainian breakthrough into the Kursk region represents not only a tactical move but also a symbolic victory that undermines Russia’s confidence in its own security. This operation shows Ukraine’s readiness to act decisively even on Russian soil, presenting new challenges for Putin.
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