Ukrainian Forces Storm Russia‘s Kursk Region
Hundreds of Ukrainian troops stormed Russia’s weakly defended Kursk region on Tuesday, sparking panic among civilians and prompting Moscow to urgently deploy additional forces. Villages near the Russian border were evacuated as hundreds of Ukrainian troops swiftly advanced in armored vehicles.
Russia has deployed army units, border guards, and warplanes to counter Ukrainian forces. Bloggers close to the Russian military claim that Ukraine captured several villages and advanced several kilometers in two directions.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the operation, but analysts suggest it is a more serious incursion than previous cross-border raids by lightly armed volunteers.
“Obviously, this is something completely new. This is a large-scale military operation,” said Ruslan Puchov, director of CAST, a Moscow-based defense think tank.
The purpose of the Ukrainian raid remains unclear, but it has surprised observers. Ukraine’s front-line defenses are fragile against a larger and better-armed enemy. Russia is pushing into Pokrovsk, Ukraine’s main logistics hub, and advancing on the nearby town of Chasiv Yar, which sits on strategic heights in eastern Donbas.
Analysts suggest that Ukraine’s swift action may force Russia to withdraw some forces from the eastern front, relieving pressure on Ukrainian forces.
By advancing into Russia, the Ukrainian military could also cut Russian supply lines to its troops near Kharkiv.
This attack demonstrates that Ukraine is unlikely to desist from its cross-border raids, and Russia should not expect quiet sovereignty over its territory.
Even Russian officials seem to doubt the Kremlin’s claims about the situation. Following the attack, Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the Ukrainian action a “large-scale provocation” and met with top defense and security officials.