- Ukraine launched a surprise ground incursion into Kursk, Russia bordering Ukraine, marking the first invasion of Russia or the former Soviet Union since World War II.
- The incursion serves multiple strategic purposes for Kyiv, including diverting Russian forces from ongoing offensives in the east and disrupting troop movements towards Kharkiv.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the operation aimed to create a buffer zone to prevent further Russian artillery strikes from Kursk against Sumy.
- Initially downplaying the incursion, Moscow has intensified its operations elsewhere, particularly in Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub connecting Kyiv’s eastern frontlines.
- Russia has bolstered Kursk’s defence by redeploying forces from Kharkiv and made significant territorial gains in the Donetsk region, counterbalancing its losses in Kursk.
- Recently PM of India visited Ukraine, the first Indian PM to visit since its independence in 1991.
| Donetsk, Donbas: The Donbas region has been a central battleground since 2014, with pro-Russian separatists controlling parts of it. Economically vital due to coal mining and industrial output, the war in Donbas symbolizes Ukraine’s struggle for territorial integrity. Kharkiv: Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and an industrial hub has been a target of heavy shelling and ground assaults. Control over Kharkiv is crucial due to its proximity to the Russian border and its strategic industries. Mariupol: Located on the Sea of Azov, Mariupol is a key port city that was heavily contested. Its capture by Russian forces secured a land corridor between Crimea and the Donbas region, essential for logistics and strategy. Zaporizhzhia: City which houses Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, making it strategically important. Control over Zaporizhzhia impacts energy security and is a significant concern for both military and environmental reasons. Sumy and Chernihiv: These regions, near the Russian border, were critical in the conflict’s early stages. They are strategically important due to their location along potential invasion routes into central Ukraine, including Kyiv. |
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