Russian authorities are scrambling to regain control in the Kursk region, following a surprise attack by Ukrainian forces that has resulted in a significant portion of Russian territory being under Kyiv’s control.
On Tuesday, Russia employed missiles, drones, and airstrikes in an attempt to reclaim lost territory. A senior Russian commander claimed that Kyiv’s advance had been halted, even as the evacuation of residents from border areas continued. Gen. Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen special forces unit Akhmat, asserted, “The uncontrolled ride of the enemy has already been halted. The enemy is now aware that the blitzkrieg they planned did not work out.”
Despite these claims, Ukrainian forces remain in control of several settlements, prompting the Kremlin to downplay the situation’s significance.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry clarified on Tuesday that Kyiv has no interest in the long-term occupation of the region. Heorhii Tykhyi stated, “Unlike Russia, Ukraine does not need other people’s property. We want to protect the lives of our people.” He added that Russia had launched over 2,000 strikes on Ukraine from the region in the past month.
In response, Russia has rushed reinforcements to Kursk, with Kyiv reporting that some units from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson sectors are being redeployed to Kursk. Ukrainian army spokesperson Dmytro Lykhoviy mentioned to Politico that the number of redeployed troops was relatively small.
Russian state television aired footage of destroyed Ukrainian hardware from Kursk, with Yuri Polskoi, head of the village of Giryi, showing charred remains of vehicles and buildings. The report claimed Ukrainian forces had been repelled upon approaching the village.
Kyiv has not disclosed the ultimate goal of its surprise offensive into Russian territory, with theories ranging from boosting morale to acquiring a bargaining chip for negotiations. Western intelligence sources reported that Kyiv did not share specific details of the operation with allies until it was underway, with little criticism coming from allied capitals. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk supported Ukraine’s actions, stating, “Ukraine has every right to wage war in such a way as to paralyze Russia in its aggressive intentions as effectively as possible.”
Previous Ukrainian raids into Russian territory were brief and aimed at psychological impact, but the current assault involves sustained territorial gains. Despite the significance of this incursion, Vladimir Putin has attempted to downplay it, emphasizing the need to focus on the socioeconomic situation rather than military details.
In a televised meeting with defense officials, Kursk’s acting head, Alexei Smirnov, informed Putin that 28 settlements were under Ukrainian control and that Kyiv’s troops had advanced up to 12 km inside Russia along a 40 km stretch of the border. Putin instructed Smirnov to focus on socioeconomic issues rather than military matters. Smirnov reported that 120,000 people had been evacuated, with another 60,000 awaiting assistance. In the Belgorod region, an additional 11,000 people had been evacuated.
The Kremlin’s messaging has been mixed, acknowledging the seriousness of the border incursion while downplaying its impact. “On the whole, the situation remains extremely difficult, but under control,” noted an article in Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.
Russia has labeled its response as a “counter-terrorism operation,” involving the FSB security services and Rosgvardia national guard, alongside the army. The initial response has appeared slow and poorly coordinated, with Ukraine claiming to have captured hundreds of Russian prisoners of war and encountered minimal resistance in some areas.
Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace highlighted the vulnerability of Russia’s borders and its strained military resources. Russian opposition figures, such as Ilya Yashin, have criticized Putin, attributing the current crisis to his leadership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy compared the Kursk situation to the 2000 sinking of the Kursk submarine, suggesting it symbolizes the end of Putin’s regime. “Twenty-four years ago there was the Kursk catastrophe, the symbolic beginning of his regime, and now it’s Kursk again,” Zelenskiy remarked.
The assault on Russia is high-risk for Ukraine, potentially jeopardizing other front-line areas. Ukraine’s general staff reported 52 Russian assaults around Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, doubling the previous week’s average.
