The Ukrainian military has successfully carried out an operation in the Kursk region, putting Russian President Vladimir Putin in a difficult position. The Kremlin reportedly demanded that Russian troops regain control of the region by October 1, which carries reputational risks for the Russian leadership.
Ivan Timochko said this in an interview with Channel 24.
According to Ivan Timochko, chairman of the Council of Reservists of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russians did not expect active actions of Ukrainian troops on the territory of the Kursk region. The Russian command did not have a clear plan for such a situation, believing that Ukraine would not look for alternative ways to attack. However, the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were successful and Vladimir Putin again found himself in a difficult political situation, refusing to recognize the Ukrainian army as foreign troops on Russian territory.
Timochko also stressed that the failure to recognize the Ukrainian Armed Forces as an occupying force deprives the Kremlin of the opportunity to accuse Ukraine of seizing territory. Putin, he said, took full responsibility for the safety of the Russian population that did not protect itself and offered compensation for material losses of only $110 per person.
The operation in the Kursk region is controlled by the FSB, but the military does not have full control, which leads to internal conflicts between security forces. The FSB, as Timochko points out, has no experience in conducting large military operations at the operational and strategic level, which complicates the situation for the Russian side.
For a successful counterattack, Russia would need about 50,000 trained soldiers, but for now, according to Timochko, Russian troops are using internal reserves, including combat brigades transferred from other sectors of the front. However, even this does not lead to significant success.
The Kursk region also proved to be logistically ill-prepared for the war, and Russian aviation faced new challenges. Timochko noted that the likelihood that Ukraine will receive permission from its allies to attack Russian territory at a depth of 300 kilometers is growing every day. This will put Russian airfields at risk, as the flight range is limited by the need to return planes to bases with a load.
The situation could lead to the expansion of military operations on Russian territory, which will increase discontent among the population. Timochko also noted that Russian troops in the Kursk region are not prepared for guerrilla warfare and resistance, which creates additional difficulties for the Kremlin.
To hold the front line, Russia will need to increase mobilization or conscription. However, according to Timochko, the Russian army is unlikely to be able to expel the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the territory of the Kursk region by October 1. The most they can hope for is to stop the advance of Ukrainian troops in certain sectors of the front.
Earlier, Kursor reported that the Ukrainian military ambushed the Russians in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters showed footage of their work in enemy territory.
