Moscow: Ukrainian forces have been making significant inroads into the Russian border region of Kursk for over a week, catching the Kremlin off guard and putting President Vladimir Putin on high alert.
The offensive, which commenced on August 6, has prompted a massive evacuation of around 121,000 people from Kursk, as reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Frankfurter Rundschau. This crisis is straining Putin’s leadership, who appears to be deflecting responsibility by shifting the burden of the offensive onto other Russian military and government officials.
In a recent televised meeting, Putin sharply criticized Kursk’s acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, accusing him of overstepping the Ministry of Defense’s authority. The ISW interprets this as a warning to other Russian officials to remain silent about the situation.
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Simultaneously, Putin has accused the West of orchestrating the Ukrainian offensive. “The West is fighting us with the hands of the Ukrainians,” he declared, vowing a “gigantic” response to the attacks.
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As tensions escalate, Kyiv is bracing for potential large-scale rocket attacks on the capital. The Ukrainian government is preparing countermeasures in anticipation of a strong reaction from Russia, according to The Moscow Times.
