Reuters: Ukraine Faces Challenges in Maintaining Military Gains on Russian Soil

Ukraine's surprise attack on the Russian region of Kursk resulted in significant achievements, with Ukrainian forces advancing into areas of Russia after crossing the border. According to Reuters, more than a week after this lightning attack, Ukraine is now facing challenges in maintaining and stabilizing its positions within Russian territory. The report states that the attack on Kursk is the largest operation by the Ukrainian army since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, and Ukrainian soldiers have seized cities in western Russia, gaining the initiative on the battlefield for the first time. Ukrainian officials announced on Wednesday, August 15, that the captured areas in Russian territory would be used as a 'buffer zone' to protect Ukraine's northern borders against Moscow's attacks. Alexander Syrski, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, announced on Thursday, August 16, the establishment of a military command office in the occupied part of Kursk, indicating that Kyiv has long-term plans for this region. He stated that Ukraine has managed to seize approximately 1,150 kilometers of Russian territory. Some Ukrainian officials, including former Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk, mentioned that one of the goals of the attack on Kursk is to reduce the increasing pressure of Russian forces on other fronts, particularly in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. However, there are currently no signs of achieving this goal, and no significant changes have been observed in Russia's military approach on other fronts. Polish military analyst Konrad Muzyka stated that the Ukrainian attack was a 'severe blow' to Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first time since World War II that Russian forces have been defeated on the front and captured in large numbers. The Russian Ministry of Defense did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on this matter. The agency added that although the deployment of Russian reinforcements to Kursk has somewhat slowed the advance of Ukrainian soldiers, Russia has still been unable to stabilize its position in the region. Russian officials claim that Ukraine's attack on Russian territory is a 'terrorist invasion' targeting civilian infrastructure, which Ukraine denies. Vladimir Putin emphasized that a 'proper response' would be given to this attack, asserting that Moscow's priority is to drive Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Kyiv has 'no interest' in permanently seizing parts of Russian territory. Although it is unclear how long Ukrainian forces will remain in the captured areas of Kursk, some experts believe that Kyiv aims to maintain these territories to gain a better position in potential ceasefire negotiations. A military analyst in Kyiv told Reuters that Ukraine seeks to hold its positions in some border cities, including Sudzha, to create a buffer zone approximately 20 kilometers inside Russian territory. He added that this area could be defended with a small number of military forces using long-range artillery and air defense. According to this military expert, the region's position, with few roads and many rivers, allows Ukrainian forces to defend their positions. However, given the shortages in the Ukrainian army, particularly in terms of manpower, maintaining positions captured in Russian territory may place Kyiv in a difficult situation. Reuters noted that the fatigue of Ukrainian soldiers and ongoing battles on other fronts pose significant challenges for Ukraine, which has lesser military capabilities compared to Russia. Maintaining positions in Kursk could also be related to the situation in Donetsk, and if Russian forces continue to advance in this area, Ukraine may have to adopt other measures.