Russia Makes Gains in Kursk: A Setback for Zelensky

In a significant development, Russia has regained control of about half of the territory it lost to Ukraine in the Kursk region. This region is crucial for Volodymyr Zelensky's plan to defeat Vladimir Putin. According to a senior Russian commander from Chechnya, around 50, 000 troops are pushing back Ukrainian forces, who either had to retreat or face being trapped. The commander, Major General Apty Alaudinov, confirmed that approximately half of the territory once occupied by Ukrainian forces has been recaptured. Reports from well-connected military bloggers on both sides have indicated that Russian troops have broken through several sectors of Ukraine's front lines in Kursk. Russian tanks have played a key role in this offensive, destroying Ukrainian strongholds and equipment. Despite Zelensky's claims that the situation is stabilized, even pro-Ukraine sources like the Institute for the Study of War have reported visual evidence of Russia recapturing 46% of its territory in Kursk. One advantage Russia has in this battle is the seasonal rain that has turned the ground to mud. This muddy terrain, known as "rasputitsa, " is notorious for slowing down vehicles, and Russia's forces rely more on tracked vehicles than Ukraine's, which use more wheeled vehicles. A pro-Kremlin blogger shared a video of Ukrainian soldiers struggling to pull an armoured car out of a muddy patch, highlighting the difficulties faced by wheeled vehicles. Emil Kastehelmi, an open-source research analyst, noted that the terrain in Kursk favors the attacker due to its large open fields with limited natural cover. Ukraine launched its daring incursion into Russia in August, capturing a significant area around the town of Sudzha. This move initially boosted Ukrainian morale but also had critics warning that it weakened Ukraine's defenses. The Kursk operation has been viewed by some analysts as a blunder, as it failed to draw Russian forces away from the front line as intended. Regardless, Zelensky has emphasized holding the Kursk salient as a key part of his 'Victory Plan. ' However, Russian forces have accelerated their attacks in Donbas since Ukraine's invasion of Kursk. Pro-Russian officials in occupied Donetsk recently claimed to have captured two-thirds of Toretsk, a key town with a pre-war population of 34, 000. Additionally, Ukrainian officials have ordered the evacuation of civilians from Kupyansk due to Russian advances, raising concerns about the provision of essential services.