But the incursion wasn’t designed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his generals with the idea of shifting the tide of the conflict: It was meant to serve both as a morale-booster for war-weary Ukrainians — in large part it did lift spirits — and as a bargaining chip in any subsequent peace talks.
Within days of the incursion, Ukrainian units drawn from four brigades quickly broadened a bridgehead in what amounted to the first invasion of Russia since World War II. And after a week, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed Ukraine had seized almost 1,000 square kilometers of territory inside Russia.
Since then elite Ukrainian units, including the 95th Air Assault Brigade, the 115th Mechanized Brigade and the 8th Separate Special Purpose Regiment, have been battling to hold their ground in the face of an escalating counteroffensive. And now they’re under considerable pressure from intense drone strikes and are struggling to ensure a smooth flow of resupplies.
In a Facebook post Artem Karyakin, a Ukrainian soldier, reported that Russia has transferred some of its best drone crews to the battle in Kursk. They are managing to hamper severely Ukraine’s logistics and room for maneuver.
“Since late 2024, Russia has dramatically escalated its use of FPV drones on various frequencies, fiber-optic connections, and fixed-wing types. Their primary aim is to disrupt our logistics,” he said.
“Our forces are struggling to deliver ammunition and provisions. Evacuating the wounded has become a dangerous and prolonged process. Some soldiers have had to rotate out on foot because transport cannot get through,” he added.
