Kursk incursion won't halt Russian advance in East Ukraine: Putin
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Despite the incursion on August 6, which displaced around 130,000 people and allowed Kiev to maintain control over parts of Kursk, Putin emphasized that the Russian advancement in the Donbass continues unabated.
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A plate with a sign Kursk 108 km is seen on the Russian-Ukrainian border on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. (AP)
Kiev's incursion into Russia's Kursk region will not impede Moscow's progress in eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin affirmed.
Despite the incursion on August 6, which displaced around 130,000 people and allowed Kiev to maintain control over parts of Kursk, Putin emphasized that the Russian advance in the Donbass continues unabated.
Speaking at an open lesson "Talking about important things", which was held at secondary school No. 20 named after the Heroes of the Fatherland of Kyzyl, Putin said, "The result is clear. Yes, people are going through difficult experiences, especially in the Kursk region. But the main aim that the enemy had -- to stop our offensive in Donbas -- it did not achieve."
Putin noted that Moscow is seeing progress at a "rate that we did not have for a long time," despite Kiev's efforts to stretch Russian forces and compel a withdrawal from eastern Ukraine.
He added, "We have to, of course, deal with these bandits that entered the territory of the Russian Federation, specifically the Kursk region, attempting to destabilize the situation in the border areas."
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Vladimir Putin stressed that the Russian armed forces are now capturing territory in square kilometers rather than just meters. "Moreover, now we are not talking about moving forward 200-300 meters [656-984 feet] at a time; we have not had such a pace of advance in Donbas for a long time. The Russian armed forces are no longer taking control of territories of 200-300 meters, but of square kilometers," he noted during the session.
Putin also stated that Russia will address the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region who have attempted to destabilize the border area.
The Russian leader emphasized that Russia is safeguarding both the residents of Donbass and its own future by preventing the establishment of hostile entities near its borders in Ukraine. Putin underscored the importance of protecting Russia from the creation of unfriendly structures close to its territory.
Ukraine's defenses in Donbass are collapsing: The Economist
The Economist published an analysis on Friday detailing the current state of the conflict in Donbass, highlighting significant shifts on the battlefield and the mounting challenges faced by Ukrainian forces.
According to the report, Ukraine's defensive lines in Donbass are collapsing as the Russian military continues to make steady gains, particularly near the strategic town of Pokrovsk.
The analysis notes that weeks after Ukrainian forces began advancing toward the Russian region of Kursk, the dynamics of the war have changed.
The once constant roar of machine gun fire has been replaced by the ringing and pain of direct hits from more precise Russian artillery.
Serhiy, an armored vehicle driver in the 80th Brigade, one of the main units leading the offensive in Kursk, told The Economist, "The enemy has gotten wiser. The shooting was frantic in the first few days. Now we are facing professional artillery."
Despite some progress, the pace of Ukraine's advance is slowing, and a new front line, stretching hundreds of kilometers, is beginning to take shape.
