Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to downplay the significance of Russia’s seizure of hundreds of square miles of Ukrainian territory, claiming it did not distract Russia from its mission.
“The enemy’s goal was to make us nervous and anxious and move troops from one area to another and stop our offensive in key areas, mainly Donbas,” Putin said at a forum in Vladivostok on Thursday. Reported by Reuters. “Did it work? No.”
Donbas is the eastern region of Ukraine that is the main front line of Russia’s offensive.
Ukraine’s attack on the Russian border region of Kursk on August 6. Surprised Russia’s military commanders.
Ukrainian troops advanced deep into Russian territory and took hundreds of prisoners.
A month later, Ukrainian troops still occupy an area of about 386 square miles.
After being caught on the back foot, Kremlin leaders are now trying to portray the invasion as Ukraine’s fault.
“By transferring large and well-trained units to these border areas with us, the enemy weakened itself in key areas, and our troops accelerated offensive operations,” Putin said.
Ukraine has argued the opposite, saying it was Russia that was forced to redirect its best troops.
The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said on Thursday that Russia had indeed diverted some units to the defense of Kursk, but relied mostly on volunteer units.
Analysts Says Ukraine is a possibility Hoping to use territory occupied by Russia as a bargaining chip in potential negotiations.
However, the objective of diverting significant Russian forces from eastern Ukraine appears to have failed. Russia has made advances in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, and Bearing down strategically Important city of Pokrovsk.
Will Kingston-Cox, Russia expert at the International Team for the Study of Security (ITSS) Verona, told France 24 that the Kursk offensive was “strategically misguided”, describing the operation as “symbolic” rather than truly game-changing.
Ukraine’s initiative in the war was taken after months on the defensive from the invasion of Kursk, ISW said, Forcing Russia to choose between expelling Ukraine from its territory or grinding progress in eastern Ukraine.
It also deals A humiliating blow to Putin’s image As a strong defender of Russia.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News This week that the invasion was part of a plan by Ukraine to win the war, and it intends to hold onto the territory.
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