The thinking behind Ukraine’s shock invasion of Russian border regions over the last two weeks has been the subject of intense speculation since it began on 6 August.
An aide to Volodymyr Zelenskyy has now offered a possible insight into Kyiv’s plan, saying the incursion in Kursk was needed to convince Russia to start “fair” talks on a peace settlement.
Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Kyiv needed to “inflict significant tactical defeats on Russia”.
“In the Kursk region, we can clearly see how the military tool is being used objectively to persuade [Russia] to enter a fair negotiation process,” he wrote in a post to X.
Mr Podolyak said Ukraine was “not interested” in occupying Russian territory and was waging an “exclusively defensive war”.
MoD: Russian forces deployed in ‘greater force’ to Kursk region after ‘disarray’
Russian forces are being deployed in “greater force” to Kursk after initial “disarray and disorganisation”, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.
In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said Ukrainian troops had penetrated the Russian border region “to a depth ranging between 10-25km over a frontage of approximately 40km”.
It said Russia’s established defensive lines and border forces were “not prepared” for last week’s attacks.
“After initial disarray and disorganisation, Russian forces have deployed in greater force to the region, including likely from elsewhere along the contact line,” the MoD said.
“They have also begun to construct additional defensive positions in an effort to prevent Ukrainian advances.”
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