Ukraine’s ongoing military operation in Russia’s Kursk region has altered the course of the war, delivering a severe blow to the morale of Russian forces, according to a report by The Hill.
Initially dismissed as a risky gamble, the operation is proving to be a game-changer as it unfolds, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi opening a new front that has caught Russia off guard.
“The impact of Syrskyi’s August surprise reverberates far beyond the battlefield, breaking taboos and uncovering signs of disarray inside the Kremlin. The focus has now shifted away from Kyiv to Russia’s ruling elite, and their increasingly tenuous hold on power,” The Hill noted.
The article suggests that for Russia to reclaim lost territories, more troops will be needed—a difficult task if Russian forces remain bogged down in Ukraine.
The prospect of sending young conscripts to Kursk poses a political dilemma for President Vladimir Putin, who had previously vowed not to deploy them to Ukraine.
The Hill further reports that President Putin, once seen as an unshakeable leader, now appears visibly rattled.
The commanding presence that once threatened nuclear escalation and boasted of shirtless Siberian holidays seems to have faded, replaced by a leader struggling under the psychological weight of a prolonged and unwinnable war.
The conflict's strain on Russia’s civilian economy is also intensifying, as the demand for soldiers exacerbates labor shortages, driving up wages and prices.
The economic impact, combined with the deepening Ukrainian incursion and the possibility of large-scale mobilization, could spark street protests, particularly in Russia's ethnic minority regions where casualties have been disproportionately high.
“With Ukraine’s goals still unclear, the operation’s success remains unknown. For the Kremlin leadership, however, one outcome is certain: A time of trouble has begun,” The Hill concludes.
Since the operation in Russia’s Kursk region began, Ukraine has captured 594 Russian soldiers and now controls over 100 settlements, covering an area of 1,294 square kilometers, according to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
