2024-08-16 02:47:04
The offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region was an unexpected and shocking event for both the Russian military and the Kremlin.
The Moscow Times writes about this, citing its sources.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the Russian leadership could not even imagine that Ukrainian troops would dare to take such a step and would be able to seize more than 100 square kilometers of territory, while taking a significant number of Russian soldiers prisoner.
The development has caused serious concern in the Kremlin, particularly among President Vladimir Putin, who sources say has become increasingly nervous amid growing concerns about his reputation among security officials and the military.
Sources say the offensive has been a real blow to Putin. One official has said directly that the Russian army has been unable to push back the enemy, which poses a threat not only to the region but also to civilians. The situation looks especially alarming to Russians given the authorities’ general assurance of an inevitable victory, which many now doubt.
At public events, sources say, Putin appeared clearly displeased and irritated.
The situation has worsened to such an extent that one of the people close to the president noted: “Today the leader was in a bad mood. He probably hasn’t been seen like this since the forced withdrawal of our army from Kherson in the fall of 2022.” These words reflect the full depth of the current crisis, which has affected not only the military but also the political situation in the Russian Federation.
One official said outright that Russian border troops had been surrounded and conscripts had been captured. He said the Ukrainian offensive was limited in depth, but its consequences were painful for Russia’s reputation both domestically and internationally.
Ranke “Cursor” wrote about how Putin could “take revenge” on Kyiv for the events in the Kursk region.
The Ukrainian authorities expect a massive missile strike on Kyiv in response to the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.