Ukraine launches largest attack on Russia since World War II
On August 6, the Ukrainian army launched a surprise operation in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border. One week into the operation, Russia is still struggling to bring the situation under control. The attack on the Kursk region marks the largest offensive Ukraine has launched against Russia since World War II, and it represents a turning point in the ongoing war that began in 2022. This operation is also notable for being the first major offensive led by the Ukrainian army, rather than by pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters.
The operation, which began on August 6, is being conducted under a veil of secrecy. The exact objectives of Ukraine’s attack on Kursk remain unclear.
What is the Main Objective of Operation Kursk?
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the goal of the operation is for Kyiv to secure a better negotiating position in any potential future talks to end the war. Experts suggest that Ukraine may be aiming to divert Russian forces away from the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region.
In a statement made last Monday, Putin claimed that Ukraine might have hoped to create unrest among the Russian population with this attack, but that they have failed to do so. He also asserted that the number of volunteers joining the Russian army has increased as a result of the attack, and that Russian forces would continue their offensives in eastern Ukraine.
Speaking to the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), senior Ukrainian security officials stated that the operation’s goal is to “pressure enemy positions and inflict maximum casualties” and “destabilize Russia.”
Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that Kyiv now controls approximately 1,000 square kilometers of territory in Kursk. Syrskyi made this statement on Telegram.
