Ukrainian forces have made significant progress in the Kursk region of Russia, destroying or damaging all three bridges over the Seim River according to Russian sources. This bold move has altered the trajectory of the war and boosted morale among Ukraine’s war-weary population. Ukraine has reportedly captured 488 square miles and 93 settlements since its incursion into the Kursk region began, with around 122,000 people having been resettled from the area.
The Ukrainian army’s push has slowed down Russia’s response to the incursion, which began on August 6. The destruction of the bridges could potentially trap Russian forces between the river, the Ukrainian advance, and the Ukrainian border. Confirming the destruction, a Russian military investigator stated that Ukraine had “totally destroyed” one bridge and damaged two others, as corroborated by satellite photos analyzed by the Associated Press.
Despite Ukraine’s successes, Russia is poised to claim another key center, the city of Pokrovsk, in eastern Ukraine. The city is one of Ukraine’s main defensive strongholds and a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region, and its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes.
Vladimir Putin (Via Vladimir Putin/Twitter)
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of “trying to destabilize our country” and compared them to terrorists, vowing to punish the perpetrators. Ukraine’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the operation is aimed at creating a buffer zone that can prevent future attacks on Ukraine from across the border, and that Ukraine is capturing a large number of Russian prisoners of war that it hopes to exchange for captured Ukrainians.
Ukraine’s incursion has exposed Russian vulnerabilities, according to analysts and Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Ukraine’s actions will help to dispel Western fears of offering more robust military aid to Kyiv. With much remaining unknown about Ukrainian operations in Russia, satellite images provide some clues about the conflict, including the use of pontoon bridges by Russian troops to supply forces around the Ukrainian advance.
Russia’s relentless six-month slog across the region following the capture of Avdiivka has cost both sides heavily in troops and armor. The war has reached a critical juncture, with Ukraine’s daring advance into Russia’s territory and Russia’s continued push in eastern Ukraine. The future of the conflict remains uncertain, with both sides dug in for a potentially long and bloody battle.
