Russia loses more territory

The ABC reports:

For the first time since World War II, Russian territory is under occupation.

Last week, Kyiv’s troops poured into the Kursk region from several directions in a surprise attack.

Now seven days into the incursion, Russia still has not been able to push them back.

Ukraine had advanced about 30 kilometres into the region, and was now in control of 28 settlements, Russian authorities said.

It is Kyiv’s largest cross-border assault since the start of the full-scale conflict, forcing more than 100,000 locals to flee. 

The operation has been described as “bold”, “ambitious”, and “significant”, and an embarrassment for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It also shows that after almost 900 days of war, surprise is still possible.

If you invade another country and try and topple their democratically elected Government, they are under no obligation to only fight you on their territory. There is a price for aggression.

Although they have slowed, Ukrainian forces appeared to still be gaining ground.

Ukraine’s top military commander said on Monday, local time, his forces now controlled 1,000 square kilometres of territory. 

Acting Kursk Governor Alexei Smirnov reported to Mr Putin that Ukrainian forces had pushed 12km into the region across a 40km front and currently control 28 Russian settlements.

Earlier Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had engaged Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, about 25km and 30km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

In comparison, the Russian advance into Kharkiv this year penetrated about 8km into Ukraine.

Ukrainian armed forces will not stay for long in Russia I suspect. That is not their objective. They have no wish to occupy Russia. They wish to force Russia to send in troops from other areas, and encourage Putin to agree to a reasonable ceasefire or peace settlement.