Moscow, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Monday that Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s southwestern Kursk region would not impede Moscow’s military advances in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the incursion, which has displaced over 130,000 residents and resulted in the Ukrainian seizure of several towns near the border, Putin vowed to continue the offensive in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Speaking to a group of students in Tyva, a republic in southern Siberia, Putin described the Ukrainian forces who crossed into Russian territory as “bandits” and emphasized that their actions would not disrupt Russia’s ongoing operations in the Donbas.
The comments came as Russia marked the first day of the new school year and ahead of Putin’s planned visit to neighboring Mongolia.
Kyiv’s Incursion and Moscow’s Response
On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, which lies near the northeastern border of Ukraine.
According to Russian reports, Kyiv’s forces quickly overran several border towns and villages, displacing tens of thousands of residents and forcing Russian military units to redeploy to address the new front.
Ukrainian officials, who have not confirmed details of the incursion, reportedly see the move as a tactical maneuver designed to divert Russian forces from the front lines in eastern Ukraine, where fierce fighting continues.
The Kursk region, which is a key logistical hub for Russian military operations, has seen sporadic cross-border attacks since the beginning of the war in February 2022.
However, the scale of this latest incursion is unprecedented, raising concerns within the Kremlin about Ukraine’s growing ability to project force into Russian territory.
Despite this, Putin assured his audience that Russia’s military operations in Ukraine’s eastern regions would proceed as planned.
“Their calculation was to stop our offensive actions in key parts of the Donbas,” Putin said during his remarks. “The result is known… They did not achieve stopping our advance in the Donbas.”
Ongoing Advances in Eastern Ukraine
While Ukrainian forces have managed to gain ground in Kursk, Russian troops have continued to press forward in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Donbas, a region that has been at the center of the conflict since 2014, remains a primary focus for Moscow as it seeks to consolidate control over territory claimed by pro-Russian separatists.
Putin emphasized that Russian forces were making progress in the region, advancing at a pace that had not been seen for some time.
“Yes, people are going through difficult experiences, especially in the Kursk region,” he acknowledged. “But the enemy’s main goal — to stop our offensive in the Donbas — was not achieved.”
The Kremlin leader’s comments come as Russian military officials report gains in several key areas of the Donbas, including near the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, both of which have been contested battlegrounds for months.
Russian forces, bolstered by reinforcements and air support, have reportedly made advances in heavily fortified Ukrainian positions, though the fighting remains intense and casualties continue to mount on both sides.
Ukrainian Strategy: A Two-Front War
Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk is part of a broader strategy to stretch Russian forces by opening multiple fronts, forcing Moscow to divert resources from the critical eastern battlefields.
Military analysts suggest that Kyiv is attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in Russia’s border regions while simultaneously preparing for a larger counteroffensive in the east.
Though Ukraine has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the Kursk operation, experts believe that the incursion may be intended to disrupt Russian supply lines and create confusion within Russian military ranks.
By seizing control of key towns and villages in the border region, Ukrainian forces could potentially cut off routes used to transport military equipment and reinforcements to the Donbas.
Despite the success of the Kursk incursion, Ukraine’s overall military strategy remains focused on reclaiming territory in the east.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that retaking the Donbas is a top priority for Kyiv, and Ukrainian forces continue to engage Russian troops in fierce battles across the region.
International Reactions
The incursion into Kursk has drawn significant international attention, with world leaders expressing concern about the potential for the conflict to spill over into Russian territory.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement urging both sides to de-escalate the situation and calling for a renewed push for peace talks.
“The incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is a serious development that underscores the need for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict,” Stoltenberg said.
“We urge both parties to avoid further escalation and to seek a peaceful solution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have reiterated their support for Ukraine, with the Biden administration announcing an additional $1.5 billion in military aid to Kyiv.
The package includes advanced weaponry, including long-range missiles and air defense systems, which are intended to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian airstrikes and artillery barrages.
In Moscow, the incursion has prompted calls for increased security measures along Russia’s western borders. Russian lawmakers have proposed expanding military presence in the region and strengthening border defenses to prevent future incursions.
However, Putin has so far resisted calls for a full mobilization of Russia’s military, arguing that the current operations in Ukraine are sufficient to achieve Moscow’s objectives.
A Divided Russian Public
Public opinion in Russia remains divided over the war in Ukraine, with some expressing support for Putin’s military campaign while others voice growing frustration over the conflict’s impact on daily life.
The incursion into Kursk has only heightened these tensions, with residents of the affected region expressing anger over the government’s failure to prevent the attack.
Local authorities in Kursk have struggled to provide adequate assistance to displaced residents, many of whom have been forced to flee their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Temporary shelters have been set up in nearby towns, but resources remain scarce, and many residents are demanding answers from Moscow.
“We were told that the government would protect us, but where were they when the Ukrainians came?” one displaced resident told a Russian news outlet. “We’ve lost everything, and now we’re left to fend for ourselves.”
Despite these challenges, Putin remains defiant, insisting that Russia will prevail in its campaign to “liberate” eastern Ukraine.
As the conflict drags on, the Kremlin appears committed to its military strategy, even as the war’s toll on both Ukraine and Russia continues to mount.
As Putin prepared to depart for his visit to Mongolia, he made it clear that Moscow would not be deterred by the latest developments on the battlefield.
“Of course, we have to deal with these bandits that entered the territory of the Russian Federation, specifically the Kursk region,” he said. “But our mission in the Donbas continues, and we will achieve victory.”
Conclusion
The war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with both sides locked in a brutal struggle for control of the eastern regions.
Despite the unexpected incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, Putin remains focused on his broader military objectives in Ukraine, vowing to continue the offensive in the Donbas. As the conflict enters a new phase, the world watches closely, hoping for a resolution that has so far proven elusive.