Ukraine's Kursk operation has successfully changed the narrative of the war, dealing a huge blow to Putin - The Hill

This week, Ukrainian troops carried out a stunning operation, invading Russia and attacking border Kursk region. The offensive was the first attack by a foreign power on Russian European territory since World War II.

The unexpected operation angered Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, who called it a "major provocation." This raises fears of a possible escalation of the conflict with both Ukraine and the United States, Kyiv's main ally, The Hill writes.

According to Olena Kudzko, vice president for policy and programs at GLOBSEC, a think tank, Ukraine has successfully changed the narrative of the war by entering Russian territory.

"Ukrainians are making every effort to change the narrative of the war. Before [Kursk], there was a feeling that the war had become quite predictable, and from many sides the war was already perceived as frozen. With this attack, Ukraine actually managed to demonstrate that there is room to make this war unpredictable, that there is room to surprise Russia," she explained.

Federico Borsari, research fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, believes that the Kursk operation is reminiscent of the counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson in 2022. According to him, this operation puts pressure on Russia, forcing it to pull back troops to protect its borders.

According to The Hill, Ukraine is attacking in two main directions: towards Sudzha and Korenyovo district.

Tomasz Blusiewicz, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, believes that Ukraine will likely withdraw from the Kursk region after forcing Russia to redeploy several brigades used for frontline positions.

Instead of holding the area, Ukraine's plan may be to attack strategic resources in Russia, including equipment and territory used to launch attacks. Capturing prisoners and territory could also be used in negotiations and prisoner exchanges. Ukrainian forces have also seized a gas metering station in the Kursk region, and the nearby Kursk nuclear power plant is also under threat.

According to Brock Bierman of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Ukrainian offensive is strategically important because it targets important assets in Russia. This forces Russia to redistribute resources for defense.

The Kursk offensive has also forced Russian citizens to face the direct consequences of war. Previously, Ukrainian strikes against Russia were limited to random drone attacks on oil depots or strategic facilities. In the past few months, they have begun using long-range artillery to hit targets near the border.

Although Putin maintains control of the country, the operation in Kursk region casts doubt on his claim that the war is "under control."

We would like to add that former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that the outbreak of active hostilities in the Kursk region showed the weakness and vulnerability of the Russian regime. What is happening is part of the pressure on the aggressor country, he said.

As reported, the Institute for the Study of War says that the Russian military command can now transfer more experienced and better equipped advanced units from the east or south of Ukraine to the Kursk region, but it will most likely take additional time to redeploy.

Other irregular Russian forces are already arriving on the ground, and the redeployment of the Northern Group of Russian troops may indicate Moscow's decision to sacrifice the offensive in Kharkiv region for the sake of defense in Kursk region.

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