Ukraine Advances on Kursk Capital, Challenging Putin's Forces
:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/KHOHO5OEXFUDZIFZDACHYZ6SAY.jpg)
Ukrainian forces have launched a significant incursion into the Russian region of Kursk, prompting local authorities to evacuate civilians. The operation, ongoing for a week, has reportedly led to the control of 28 localities by Ukraine, with over 121,000 people evacuated from border areas. Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed the presence of troops in Kursk, describing the operation as a disaster for Russia.
The incursion marks the largest attack on Russian soil since World War II, challenging the Kremlin's narrative of stability. Despite Russian claims of thwarting attacks, experts suggest that Russian forces are struggling to stabilize the situation due to poor command and control. The conflict has raised concerns about the use of NATO-supplied weapons by Ukraine, although the specifics remain unclear.
Putin has characterized the incursion as an attempt by Ukraine to gain leverage in future peace talks, while Ukrainian officials assert their actions are legitimate and aimed at protecting their citizens. The situation continues to evolve as both sides prepare for potential escalations.