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Birmingham: Sudden attack in Kursk region of Russia As of August 6, Ukraine had controlled up to 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory, destroyed a large amount of equipment, captured Russian troops, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Russian army.
This is an operation that sets many firsts and is also a huge gamble for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It was the first major Ukrainian offensive since the much-anticipated but ultimately failed counteroffensive a year ago. It was also the first time that regular Ukrainian forces had launched a large-scale operation inside the Russian Federation.
Excluding the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict, this was the first time foreign troops had entered Russia since the German invasion in 1941.
After a long, gradual, albeit costly, advance, a 1,000-kilometer frontline inside Ukraine is advancing, the first major military challenge the Kremlin has faced since the 2022 Ukrainian summer offensive.
Therefore, if not contained quickly, it would be the first major challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority since the failed Syrian rebellion in 1966. Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Orchestra in June 2023.
Bargaining with Russia in future peace talks
But this was also Ukraine’s first operation with an unknown target.
Zelensky reportedly likened Ukraine’s success to a growing “exchange fund” – most likely territory and prisoners of war. The latter could benefit Ukraine’s recruitment and retention of soldiers. After all, not abandoning captured soldiers and bringing them home is crucial to the government’s legitimacy.
Yet territory, especially Russian territory, is crucial to Ukraine’s position in future negotiations with Russia.
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