Kursk operation: Putin's perfect storm

The Kursk operation is an absolute success: a war on Russia’s territory with time constraints forcing the opponent into catastrophic mistakes through frontal assaults.

• Initially, Putin demanded victory by September 1.
• Then by October 1.
• Then by November 1.
• Then by December 1.

Now he’s pushing for at least January 20, Trump's inauguration.

Yet it’s already clear he won’t meet this deadline either.

"For Putin, this is more than just important. The Kursk operation is a symbol of his defeat. Ending the war with such a symbol means admitting that any ceasefire negotiations will involve bargaining over Kursk."

This is Putin's weakness, dragging him back to a past when Russia was forced to negotiate due to battlefield failures. He’s desperate to shed this image at any cost - sending troops into frontal assaults and humiliating himself before North Korea, begging for soldiers.

It’s the perfect storm for Putin because the Kursk operation isn’t just a battlefield; it’s a symbol of the Kremlin’s vulnerability and weakness.

For Ukraine, it’s yet another battlefield. It doesn’t matter where we strike Russia - as long as we don’t have to turn our homes into battlefields or dig trenches in our cities.

Currently, Kursk is one of the key fronts where Russians are dying en masse and senselessly. For us, it’s an advantage - reducing Russia's numbers from defensive positions, where they make the most mistakes and rely on the typical Russian "maybe it’ll work" mindset.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of Ukraine hold their ground, firmly entrenched in their positions. My respect to every soldier - you are all heroes. Real ones. Not cinematic, but true warriors. A deep bow to you for your sacrifice.

Source

About the author. Petro Shuklinov, journalist.

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.