mrstickball said:
Newsweek is reporting that Ukraine is renewing an offensive in Kursk: https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-launches-renewed-kursk-offensive-reports-2027218
Which is a great plan, IMHO. Many pundits believed that it was a bad move when they tried this in 2024, but as we now see in hindsight, the Russians couldn't do enough to expel them from the area, and created a lot of havoc for the Russians. Enough so its pushed North Korean involvement which already faltered due to the unmitigated slaughter of DPRK troops.
Hopefully this offensive can force a battered, tattered Russian military beyond the brink. |
It'll likely be limited but I always thought the offensive into Kursk made sense, I'm pretty sure it was done in part because there was a lot of fear and rumours that Trump would stop aid to Ukraine and force them to negotiate with Russia, Ukraine surrenders the territory that Russia has stolen in exchange for "peace" but by taking part of Kursk, Russia would likewise have to agree to surrender territory in exchange for "peace" so it makes it even harder for anyone to pressure Ukraine into a shitty deal as long as they hold onto Kursk.
That and distracting Russian troops.
Honestly, I still think the 2023 offensive should have been invading Russia instead of charging directly into the frontline, it's clear that the Russian border isn't well defended, but the West back then didn't have the stomach to allow Ukraine to invade Russia. I feel like it still makes more sense to invade into Russia and then double back into Ukraine, hitting behind Russian fortifications, more than charging headfirst into fortifications, minefields and artillery like the current frontlines are littered with.