Russia is continuing to intensify its offensive in eastern Ukraine while also facing the need to respond to the Kiev military forces crossing into Kursk.
Reported by Bloomberg, on Thursday, Russian President Putin held a meeting with officials to discuss the situation in Kursk, as well as the border areas near Belgorod and Bryansk, issuing orders to ensure the well-being of people evacuated from the region. However, there was no mention of plans to drive out Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.
Meanwhile, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Russian forces are advancing towards Pokrovsk, an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian military.
Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the Russian magazine “Defense,” stated that the pressure on the entire Ukrainian front will continue, and forces there will not be redeployed to the Kursk region.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War mentioned that although Ukraine has entered the Kursk region, it is unlikely that Russian frontline forces will be withdrawn from Ukraine, as the Kremlin may prioritize continuing offensive operations in eastern Ukraine. Independent military analysts estimate that up to 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers may be needed to recapture the Kursk region occupied by Ukraine.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Zelensky posted on Telegram that he discussed Russia’s military developments in eastern Ukraine with Armed Forces Commander Syrskyi. Syrskyi reported measures taken to strengthen defense near critical logistical hubs.
Eastern Ukraine, also known as “Ukraine East” or simply “East Ukraine,” is a geographical region of Ukraine referring to areas east of the Dnieper River, particularly the Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts, and may also include the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, as well as southern Ukraine and the Donbas region. Around 30% of Ukraine’s population resides in the eastern region, where Russian is the most commonly used language, followed by Ukrainian.
In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, instigating support for pro-Russian armed groups to launch armed insurgency in the Donbas region against the Ukrainian government. On February 24, 2022, Putin announced the start of a “special military operation” leading to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.