Ukraine has also reportedly launched another limited incursion into the Kursk region
I really do not understand what they are doing.
I was watching some videos today, and it seemed like a grouping of about 300 in size, with a few dozen vehicles. The whole area is flat, and you can see the Ukrainians like in the palm of your hand. Drones and mines took them apart within minutes - not hours.
This war has shown that attacking is very hard. Elite Ukrainian formations, like the paratroopers of the 92nd, that are ferociously effective at defense - routinely fail when ordered to go on the offensive.
Russia has to attack non-stop, at heavy cost, because we're the ones trying to stick to some schedule and some plan.
Ukraine doesn't have to do it. Ukraine should sit tight and absorb the blows as economically as possible.
Facing manpower shortages, and the looming threat of a suspension of aid from America, Ukraine should be extremely careful in how it exploits its resources. At least that's what I think.
That's why these Kursk things are so baffling. Zelensky and Syrski have offered two explanations:
1) It was done to preempt a planned Russian offensive into Sumy
2) It was a gambit aimed at improving Ukraine's negotiating leverage during ceasefire negotiations.
I don't understand neither point 1 nor point 2.
If Russia was planning to attack in the North, how come there was practically no one there when Ukraine invaded?
Regarding point 2, why should Putin even consider any potential trades, when Russia controls more than 100x the territory? What kind of leverage is that?