On Tuesday, August 6, Ukraine launched an attack on Kursk, a city in southern Russia. According to reports from the Institute for the Study of War, troops have already advanced more than 6 miles into the Russian border. The Russians say Ukraine has entered Russian territory with at least 1,000 troops in armored trucks and vehicles. Russia has declared a state of emergency and begun evacuating residents in some areas of Kursk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just acknowledged the incursion, saying Russia must “feel” the consequences of its invasion.
In his speech on Wednesday evening, President Selenskyj stated: “Ukraine is proving that it knows how to restore justice and is providing exactly the pressure that is needed – pressure on the aggressor.”
In another evening speech, Zelenskyj stated: “Russia has brought war to our country and should feel what it has done.”
In response to the incursion, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of a “serious provocation.”
This invasion came amid discussions by major international organizations such as NATO, which condemn Russia for its initial invasion. However, there is no clear plan of action at this point to end the war that has lasted for almost two and a half years. Ukraine’s actions are understandably and justifiably motivated, as nearly 10,000 civilians have been killed and 20,000 injured so far in the ongoing conflict.lict. Many countries have imposed numerous trade embargoes to pressure Russia to end the conflict. However, Russia has been able to circumvent these measures by shipping goods via “shadow fleets” of tankers. Russia is also able to source goods from smaller neighboring countries such as Georgia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, while receiving significant support from China. International organizations such as NATO and the G7 need to implement stricter maritime surveillance measures to detect vessels of the rapidly growing “shadow fleet” and enforce these trade restrictions more strictly. Embargoes. Increased maritime security is essential to exert significant pressure on the Russian economy and to end the conflict with less violence.
Russia has repeatedly claimed ownership of Ukrainian territory as a motive for its invasion, but Ukraine is widely recognized as a sovereign country with its own unique culture and democratic form of government. Prior to the invasion, Ukraine had sought to join key Western institutions and strengthen its ties with NATO, which Russia strongly opposed. The Russian invasion is in direct contradiction to Western recognition of Ukraine as a sovereign state.
The war has already taken a heavy toll on Russian forces and led to a decline in Russian economic growth. The recent invasion of Ukraine represents another major obstacle for Russia in this conflict. The number of civilian casualties will rise and more military equipment will be damaged, and this move is likely to increase tensions. Without the support and intervention of international organizations, the war is likely to continue and possibly escalate.
