Russia strengthens border defenses after surprise attack by Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the general staff had prepared a series of measures to protect Russia's Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod border regions - an area the size of Portugal.

“First of all, we are talking about improving the efficiency of the command and control system through cooperation with other law enforcement agencies,” Belousov said, adding that Russia is “allocating additional budget and forces” to ensure the inviolability of Russian territory.

Ukrainian servicemen ride military vehicles near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine, August 11. Photo: Reuters August 11, 2024. REUTERS

Earlier on August 6, thousands of Ukrainian troops suddenly attacked across Russia's western border, killing 12 civilians and injuring 121, including 10 children. More than 120,000 people have been evacuated from the Kursk region. According to the Russian Defense Ministry , Kiev has lost about 2,640 troops, 37 tanks and 32 armored personnel carriers since the fighting began in the Kursk region.

The raid has had an impact on the fighting, forcing Russia to withdraw some of its forces from eastern Ukraine. Russian officials, meanwhile, say the raid will not change the course of the conflict.

Monica Duffy Toft, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Tufts University (Massachusetts), said that Ukrainian forces would not be able to gain a foothold in the Kursk region and would be forced to withdraw from Russia.

According to her, Kiev's troops and equipment "will be redistributed, after rest and re-equipment, to other important areas of the Ukrainian front with Russia." Therefore, the raid will not have much of a lasting impact. "Ukraine will be forced to retreat from Russia," she stressed.

Mark Episkopos, a fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Public Administration in Washington, notes that “Ukraine does not have the long-term capacity to hold even the modest territory it is currently disputing.”

On the ground in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has captured at least 450 square kilometers of Russian territory, both Ukraine and Russia have claimed success. Russia said it had regained control of the Krupets settlement in the Kursk region, while Ukraine said it had advanced 1.5 kilometers in the past 24 hours and had set up a military command post to maintain order.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters, TASS)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-tang-cuong-phong-thu-bien-gioi-sau-cuoc-tan-cong-bat-ngo-cua-ukraine-post307947.html