Retired Russian general and member of the State Duma Andriy Gurulyov has sharply criticized the preparation of defenses on the border with Ukraine after the recent invasion of the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces. According to him, the successful advance of Ukrainian troops became possible due to ignoring warnings about the accumulation of troops on the border, reports one of the leading Russian publications, “Lenta”.
Gurulyov, who previously held key command positions in the Russian military and was appointed governor of the Trans-Baikal region by President Vladimir Putin in 2019, visited Kursk Oblast on August 7, the day after the Ukrainian offensive began. During his speech on the TV show “Sunday Evening with Volodymyr Solovyov”, he noted that the defensive measures on the border were insufficient, and the minefields that were installed remained ineffective due to the lack of fire support.
“The authorities were aware of the concentration of Ukrainian troops in the border zone, but no appropriate measures were taken. The defense group, which was supposed to protect the state border, was poorly equipped with everything necessary,” said Gurulyov, adding that reports on the real state of affairs are often embellished in order not to cause discontent.
The Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, according to the Ukrainian side, was aimed at “stretching” Moscow’s forces and destabilizing the situation in Russia, showing its inability to protect its own borders. According to Ukrainian sources, thousands of military personnel participated in the raid, which became the largest and deepest penetration into Russian territory since the beginning of the war in February 2022.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, stated in his address that Kyiv intends to transfer the war to the territory of the aggressor, responding to numerous cross-border attacks carried out by Russia during the summer.
Against the background of the escalation of the conflict, Russia sent reinforcements and announced the introduction of an “anti-terrorist” regime in three regions bordering Ukraine, including Kursk. Moscow has already threatened tough measures in response to the Ukrainian strikes that resulted in casualties in the Russian city of Kursk.
The Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region became a serious challenge for the Russian authorities, showing the vulnerability of its borders and calling into question the ability of the country’s defense forces to effectively respond to such threats.
