Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk Oblast as a signal of Russian intent to take advantage of the “pause” on U.S. military aid to Ukraine; further, he has designated Ukrainian forces as “terrorists.”
For the first time since Ukraine launched its counter-invasion into the Kursk Oblast last summer, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited the region, arriving at a command post last Wednesday. During the brief and unannounced visit, the Russian head of state was spotted wearing a basic military uniform.
Putin’s appearance coincides with the Kremlin taking advantage of a “pause” in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv and succeeded in recapturing more than 100 square kilometers of territory. Russian state media claims that “five settlements were liberated” in recent days while claiming that tens of thousands of troops, hundreds of tanks, and other vehicles were destroyed or captured. Russian media reports specifically mentioned the U.S.-made M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).
Kyiv has not responded to the Russian claims about its losses, which Western analysts and observers believe have been vastly inflated. Moscow only last acknowledged its losses in November 2022, six months into the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian Forces Designated “Terrorists”
Last Wednesday, President Putin declared that the Ukrainian forces now fighting in the Kursk Oblast are terrorists and would be treated as such.
“The people who are here in the Kursk Region, committing crimes against civilians and fighting against our armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and security services are terrorists by Russian laws,” Putin told Russian state media outlet Tass.
“This is how the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office classifies their actions, and it is under the [Criminal Code] article on terrorism that the Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation into them,” the Russian leader added.
“Based on Russian laws, we should treat these people first and foremost as terrorists.”
Ukrainian forces launched their counteroffensive into the Kursk Oblast on August 6, 2024. This marked the first time since the Second World War that Russian territory had been invaded, and it was seen as a major embarrassment for Putin and the Russian military.
Moscow even solicited outside assistance, including as many as 10,000 North Korean troops, to help bolster its forces and stabilize the situation. While much of the territory has been taken back, it has served as a reminder that the war failed to go as the Kremlin likely expected more than three years ago.
Describing it as a terrorist incursion is an attempt to downplay the fact that Ukraine still isn’t defeated.
It was also this week that Kyiv launched its most significant drone attack on Moscow, in which three civilians were killed.
Russian Forces Stalled So-Called “Terrorists” in Donbas Region
Even as the Kremlin’s troops are now making progress in recapturing ground in the Kursk Oblast, it is beginning to stall in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where the heaviest fighting of the war has primarily occurred.
While peace talks are ongoing and a potential ceasefire is in the works, it is unclear if Moscow can sustain its war effort much longer.
“Russia likely cannot sustain continued efforts along these lines indefinitely without a major mobilization effort that Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to order. Ukraine, on the other hand, has shown its ability to fight off massive and determined Russian offensive efforts even during periods of restricted Western aid,” the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.
Ukrainian forces have also begun to regain some ground that the Russians gained during their latest offensive, which began more than a year ago.
“Russian brigades have been depleted, and Moscow is struggling to replace destroyed equipment, offering limited opportunities that Ukrainian forces are trying to exploit,” The New York Times also explained.
Ukraine has backed a possible ceasefire agreement, but it will still depend on Putin. However, some of his demands, notably a pullback of NATO and a refusal to deploy foreign peacekeepers to Ukraine may be entirely off the table.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons/ Kremlin.ru.
