Additional Coverage:
- Ukrainian troops fighting on Russian soil have an advantage they’ve never had in this war (newsbreak.com)
Ukraine’s New Advantage in Kursk
Ukrainian troops fighting in Russia’s Kursk region have a unique advantage: flexibility in combat. Unlike on home soil, they don’t need to defend Russian cities, allowing them to choose strategic positions and retreat when necessary.
This gives Ukraine the ability to “fight where it’s advantageous and pull back when it’s not,” as one expert explained. They can focus on defending only the most defensible areas, avoiding unnecessary casualties and protecting their equipment.
Less Pressure to Defend
In Ukraine, Russian forces threaten to hold captured territory indefinitely, which weighs heavily on the country’s military. However, in Kursk, Ukraine doesn’t have to worry about this, allowing it to approach the war differently.
This freedom allows Ukrainian commanders to make strategic decisions based on military needs, rather than emotional attachments to territory. They can give up Russian villages without feeling the same demoralization as they would if they lost Ukrainian villages.
Bleeding Russia
Experts believe Ukraine may also use its presence in Kursk to bleed Russian forces by creating “kill zones” and “traps.” By choosing the time and place of their defense, Ukraine can inflict significant losses on Russia while protecting its own troops.