- Ukraine’s cross-border offensive targets Russian territory, regaining momentum and morale
- Ukrainian forces claim success, but the extent of territorial gains is disputed
- Kyiv hopes to divert Russia’s focus from Ukrainian soil, raising stakes in potential peace talks
While the letter “Z” may signify Russia’s invasion, a triangle signifies Ukraine’s most ambitious attempt to fight it.
They are taped or painted on the sides of every supply vehicle, tank, or personnel carrier travelling to the Sumy region’s Russian border.
It is an attack that has gained hundreds of square kilometers of Russian land while also significantly restoring momentum and morale to Ukraine’s military effort.
The Russian official in command of Kursk’s border region has spoken of 28 Ukrainian-controlled communities, and nearly 200,000 Russians have evacuated their homes.
Tomash has just returned from Ukraine’s cross-border expedition with his colleague “Accord,” who casually says it was “cool.”
Their drone squad had spent two days preparing for the cross-border intrusion.
“We had orders to come here, but we didn’t know what that meant,” Tomash says as he takes a coffee break at a petrol station.
“We suppressed the enemy’s means of communication and surveillance in advance to clear the way.”
The amount of Russian territory gained is unknown, although Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi’s claim that 1,000 square kilometres are under Ukrainian control is questioned.
Russia’s defence ministry stated on Tuesday that Ukrainian attempts to push further had been blocked, but this has previously been proven incorrect.
Whatever the truth, Kyiv is committed to this military gamble.
The last time I hadn’t seen this degree of activity in the neighbouring Sumy region was during the liberation in 2022 when there was a sense of wind in Ukrainian sails.
It is undeniably a pleasant change from the gruelling war of attrition of the previous 18 months, but judging it as a success or failure would be premature.
The purpose of this offensive is unclear, although President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that it will target sites from which Russia might launch attacks on Ukraine, bringing “a just peace” closer.
However, Kyiv is deploying some of its most potent forces.
Fit-looking warriors congregate around cars that match their muscle mass. Most respectfully, they decline to speak, and some appear weary.
A soldier who is still in Russia tells us on the Telegram messaging app that it took months of planning to get Moscow to move soldiers from other sectors of the Ukrainian front line.
“The element of surprise worked,” he explains. “We entered with minimal resistance. On August 6, the first groups crossed at night in various directions.”
“Almost immediately they reached the western outskirts of the city of Sudzha,” the historian states.
Secrecy benefits the soldiers who carry out such operations; the same cannot be true for civilians.
Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated on both sides of the border as air strikes and fighting intensify.
“The Russian civilians we encounter don’t resist,” the soldier explains. We don’t touch them, but they either treat us sharply, negatively, or not at all.
“They also deceive us about the positions of Russian troops,” according to him.
The soldiers we spoke with affirm that Russian forces have been redeployed from the eastern front line, including the Kharkiv, Pokrovsk, and Toretsk directions.
However, none of them have reported a slowdown in Russian progress.
Vladimir Putin has promised a “worthy response” to the first takeover of Russian territory since WWII.
However, any dread he hoped to instil has not reached the dusty border communities regularly bombarded by his forces.
Misha and his pal Valera drive past us in their orange Lada in Stetskivka village.
“I want them to take it [Kursk region] and do this!” Misha exclaims, twisting his hands.
“They should take everything, even Moscow!”
It’s rage stemming from being the target of Russia’s persistent full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
Russia attacked first, not us,” says Valera, his window down. “Now our guys have answered and demonstrated what we are capable of. We would have captured it sooner if we had permission.”
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Ukraine has now received the Western green light to strike across the border.
The stakes remain high, as evidenced by the construction of new defences on the outskirts of Sumy.
Until last week, residents in the area had been concerned about a Russian offensive in northern Ukraine. If Ukraine’s incursion fails, those concerns may be realized swiftly.
Russian aggressors outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers and continued to do so.
“To maintain control of this Russian territory, we require two things,” writes our Ukrainian soldier in enemy territory.
“More towns like Sudzha under our control, and reserves,” he finishes.
“Our front line is already bursting at the seams, and it’s not clear where we will get them.”
For Kyiv, the reasoning or hope is that Russia will be compelled to shift its focus away from fighting on Ukrainian soil and toward its own.
Some Ukrainians believe this counter-offensive will strengthen their position in peace talks.
It might also push talks further away.
