The Ukrainian offensive deep into Russian territory marks the first direct attack on the country since 1941, according to the French newspaper Le Figaro.
The operation, which began in the Kursk region, is not merely a diversion but signifies a new direction in the conflict, the newspaper suggested.
On Aug. 7, Ukrainian forces seized at least three localities in the Kursk region, as confirmed by local media reports on the same day. Mykhailo Podolak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also confirmed the offensive on Aug. 8.
In recent months, particularly last spring, Ukrainian forces faced additional challenges due to a Russian attack on the Kharkiv region. Although the aggressors failed to penetrate deeper into Ukraine, it added further strain to the already stretched Ukrainian military.
The operation in the Kursk area might be an attempt to force Russians to redeploy their troops to this region, thereby relieving defenses on other fronts, and possibly even to recapture territories occupied by Russia.
There is also a possibility that the operation is intended to be demonstrative, to convey that, after months of difficult situations, Ukrainians are again in control of the battlefield dynamics.
“The idea (behind this attack) is to show that Ukrainians are still brave, formidable, and not merely retreating,” said an anonymous representative of the French military. The Kursk region is poorly defended compared to areas around Donetsk, where the heaviest fighting is ongoing.
Capturing part of the Kursk region could also serve as a bargaining chip for Ukraine, especially since a possible victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. elections might lead to peace talks, which President Zelensky has also mentioned.
Experts remind, however, that like any offensive, it could be very costly for the Ukrainian army. Putin will mobilize all his forces, and Russian fighter jets will also be very dangerous for Ukrainian armored vehicles. Photos analyzed by journalists already show losses suffered by Ukrainians in the initial days of the offensive.
An anonymous representative of the French army quoted by Le Figaro summarized the recent events: At first glance, “one might think that this step by the Ukrainians is madness. It could all end in failure unless they have a specific objective that we do not see.”
