The 82nd Airborne Brigade trained in Great Britain. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
The Ukrainian offensive on Russia’s Kursk region continues to attract the attention of the international community, as the details of the operation remain shrouded in mystery. In an interview with The Independent, the chief adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that the “partner forces” were informed in advance about this operation. However, official sources from the allies did not confirm this information.
While key Western countries that support Ukraine did not give a clear answer to questions about their awareness of the offensive, Podolyak hinted that Ukraine could not act without the approval of its partners. He noted that operations of this scale require an “element of surprise” and take place at the local level, but at the same time consult with allies, albeit not publicly.
Regarding the use of Western weapons, Podoliak confirmed that Great Britain maintains a ban on the use of Storm Shadow missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory. However, former British Defense Secretary Sir Ben Wallace previously said that other weapons could be used inside Russia, and that position remains unchanged.
Battles in Kurshchyna continue: evacuation and mobilization of forces
Against the background of the invasion of Ukrainian troops, the acting governor of the Kursk region, Oleksiy Smirnov, ordered the mandatory evacuation of the city of Glushkovo. In response to the actions of the Ukrainian army, the Russian authorities declared a state of emergency in the neighboring Belgorod region.
The Ukrainian General Staff decided to strengthen the offensive by sending two amphibious brigades to Kursk. According to military analysts, in total, the Ukrainian expeditionary force in this region has about six brigades, supported by artillery and special forces.
Planning under the cover of secrecy: a blow to the authority of Russia
The New York Times
The New York Times reports that the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region was carefully planned in the strictest secrecy. Only a narrow circle of commanders knew about the operation, and even ordinary soldiers learned about it only a day before it began. Preparations included masking the equipment and soldiers, which allowed for an element of surprise.
The Ukrainian authorities quickly evacuated civilians from the border areas in response to the bombing by Russia. Lieutenant Colonel Artem, one of the commanders of the operation, said that the goal of the offensive was achieved: “This is a blow to Russia’s authority. We have created a buffer zone in this country.”
Currently, it remains unknown what strategic goals Ukraine pursues in the Kursk region, but it is clear that this offensive is a significant challenge for Russia and its positions in the region.
