Putin Claims Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion Fails to Halt Russia’s Advances

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region has not hindered Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine but instead weakened Kyiv’s defenses.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Putin announced that Russian forces are gradually pushing Ukrainian soldiers out of Kursk, following Ukraine’s major attack on August 6, the biggest assault on Russia since World War Two.

He emphasized that Ukraine’s efforts had compromised defenses elsewhere, allowing Russia to escalate its actions in the eastern Donbas region. “The enemy’s goal was to make us nervous… Did it work? No,” he asserted.

Putin, who initiated a large-scale military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, reinforced that it is the duty of Russian armed forces to expel Ukrainians from Kursk and defend citizens.

Ukraine’s General Oleksandr Syrskyi communicated that the aim of the Kursk operation was to divert Russian troops from crucial areas around Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

Though the Kursk incursion is perceived as an embarrassment for Putin, Russian officials now portray it as a significant misstep by Kyiv, arguing it stretches their resources thin without major benefits.

Putin claimed that diverting well-trained units to the border regions has allowed Russian forces to accelerate their campaigns in essential regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed intentions to retain control of Kursk, framing the operation as part of a broader victory strategy that brings the war to Russians.

He stated that Russian forces are capturing eastern Ukrainian territory faster than before, with increasing recruitment in Russia. “No action is taking place to contain our offensive,” Putin asserted, citing success near Pokrovsk.

Currently, Russian forces control 18% of Ukraine and have made progress since the setbacks of Kyiv’s 2023 counter-offensive. Although the Kremlin claims that the conditions for peace talks with Ukraine are lacking, Putin named China, India, and Brazil as possible mediators, reiterating that a previously reached agreement during initial talks in Istanbul could be the basis for future discussions.