Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has sent top general General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to organize the fightback against Ukraine’s surprise counter-offensive in the Kursk region. The move comes after Ukrainian tanks were spotted approaching Russian positions, indicating that Putin is “clearly worried” about the situation.
The Kursk region is a priority for Putin, as repelling the August 2024 advance into Russia has become crucial to maintaining his negotiating position before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have calculated that applying pressure in Kursk could strengthen his negotiating position.
The stakes are high for Zelensky, who had staked his presidency on defeating Russia militarily since the start of the war in February 2022. However, his language has softened in recent months as Ukraine’s military weaknesses became clear.
Putin views Sunday’s action as a personal affront to Ukraine but is likely more concerned about the potential impact on peace negotiations with the West. The clock is ticking down towards a second Trump presidency, and Putin may not have time to overwhelm Ukrainian positions with swarm infantry tactics.
Zelensky’s gamble in launching a second Kursk counter-offensive is both strategically savvy and desperate. It is unclear how successful the Ukrainian counter-offensive will be, but Putin’s move suggests that he believes it could be his final roll of the dice.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/top-russian-general-betrays-putin-164505205.html