IN a major significant shift in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, as Ukraine has launched successive attacks against Russian territory, marking a major change in the war. According Reuters, Ukraine has pounded Russia with missiles and drones, claiming to advance deeper into Russian territory in what is described as the largest foreign incursion into Russia since World War II.
The Ukrainian offensive began on August 6, when thousands of Ukrainian troops crossed into Russia’s western Kursk region. Reuters cites Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stating that his forces continue to advance and that he has ordered his generals to develop the next “key steps” in the operation.
Reuters reports that Russia claims to have destroyed 117 Ukrainian drones overnight, primarily in the Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Russian state media has shown footage of evacuations of Russian civilians from the border zone, with nearly 200,000 Russians reportedly evacuated.
Reuters notes that this Ukrainian assault has dramatically changed the narrative around the war, as Russia had been advancing following Ukraine’s failed 2023 counteroffensive. The incursion has created what U.S. President Joe Biden called a “real dilemma” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s actions may be aimed at improving Kyiv’s negotiating position ahead of possible peace talks, according to Putin. However, Russian officials suggest that Ukraine is trying to demonstrate its military capabilities to Western backers as pressure mounts for both sides to engage in peace negotiations.
Reuters reports that the offensive carries risks for Ukraine, potentially leaving other parts of the front exposed. The news agency cites a former Ukrainian Defense Minister suggesting that the goal appears to be to distract Russian forces and leadership’s attention and resources from the frontline in Ukraine.
Russian military bloggers expect Ukraine to make at least one more major move in the coming days, while Russia’s Belgorod region has declared a state of emergency due to the ongoing tension.
