The attack on the Kursk region was a big blow for Putin – The Hill

The unexpected operation of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region angered Vladimir Putin. The Hill wrote this on Saturday, August 10, citing analysts.

In particular, Elena Kudzko, vice president for policy and programs at the GLOBSEC analytical center, said that Ukraine successfully changed the narrative of the war by entering Russian territory.

“Before Kursk, there was a feeling that the war had become predictable, and on many sides the war was perceived as frozen. By carrying out this attack, Ukraine proved that it can be surprised,” he explained.

Federico Borsari, a researcher at the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, noted that the Ukrainians are putting pressure on the Russian Federation, forcing it to move troops and protect its borders.

“I think the Russians will try to withstand the pressure, even if it means giving Ukraine some opportunities in other areas,” he suggested.

Borsari added that at this stage it is not yet clear whether this attack will have any dramatic effect on the front line.

Tomasz Blusiewicz, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, believes that Ukraine is likely to withdraw from the Kursk region, but only after forcing Russia to move some brigades north.

“This is a very smart move by Ukraine. They have already achieved enormous success in forcing Russia to move its troops, showing that Russia is defenseless in some areas. This is a big blow to Putin’s prestige, ” he explained.

German Marshall Fund senior fellow Brock Biermann said the Ukrainian offensive was strategic because it targeted a region of Russia with important assets that could now be destroyed and eliminated as a threat. He added that this is a way to disperse the front lines and force Russia to “relocate resources” to protect its assets.

The publication added that the offensive operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces forced the citizens of Russia to face the direct consequences of the war.

Before the offensive, Ukrainian strikes against Russia were limited to occasional drone attacks on oil depots or strategic targets. In the past few months, they have begun using US-made weapons, including long-range artillery, to hit targets near the border.

“And while Putin maintains a tight grip on his country and stifles dissent, the operation in the Kursk region casts doubt on his narrative that the war is under control,” the newspaper added.