Russia’s border defences “were not prepared” for Ukraine’s multi-battalion assault, according to the British Ministry of Defence.
Russia’s initial response was “disarray and disorganisation,” the ministry says in an update on social media.
But Russian forces have now been redeployed from elsewhere along the border and they are building “additional defensive positions in an effort to prevent Ukrainian advances”.
The intelligence update also confirmed that Ukrainian troops have penetrated the Kursk region “to a depth ranging between 10-25km over a frontage of approximately 40km” since the incursion began.
Kursk attack will force Russia to negotiate, says top Zelensky adviserpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time13:33 BST
Getting Russia to negotiate on Ukraine’s terms is one of the objectives behind its incursion into Russia, a senior aide to President Zelensky says.
“Ukraine is not interested in occupying Russian territories,” explains Mykhailo Podolyak in a statement on social media.
“But if we are talking about potential negotiations – I emphasize potential – we will have to put [Russia] at the table opposite. On our own terms.”
Ukraine showing that it is capable of occupying Russian territory would be a “proven, effective means of coercion” to force Russia into negotiations, Podolyak says.
“In the Kursk region, we can clearly see how the military tool is being used objectively to persuade [Russia] to enter a fair negotiation process,” he says.
Podolyak says that the incursion will also influence public opinion because “the Russians were obviously scared. They are shocked,” by the ability of Ukraine’s forces to enter Russian territory.
“Negative changes in the psychological state of the Russian population will be another argument for the start of negotiations,” he says.
