By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies
Ukrainian forces make rapid gains on Russian soil with the help of HIMARS and strategic intelligence, but calls grow for more advanced Western arms.
KYIV, August 14, 2024 — In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian forces have advanced deep into Russian territory over the past week, seizing control of up to 1,000 square kilometers and more than 70 settlements in the Kursk region. This marks the first major incursion onto Russian soil since World War II, a feat that has been made possible through the combination of superior Ukrainian intelligence and U.S.-provided weaponry.
On Wednesday, Day 9 of the offensive, Ukraine’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, briefed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the progress made in the Kursk region. “The grouping of defense forces continues to conduct an offensive operation on the territory of the Kursk region,” Syrskyi reported via video conference. “Since the beginning of this day, Ukrainian troops have advanced from one to two kilometers.”
Key Role of U.S. Weaponry
Vladislav Seleznyov, a former spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces’ general staff, credited Ukrainian intelligence and the U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for the rapid advance. “Ukrainian intelligence worked perfectly,” Seleznyov told VOA’s Russian Service. “Some of the enemy columns rushing to the aid of the Russian army in the Kursk region were destroyed thanks to artillery and drones. Perhaps aviation.”
Seleznyov emphasized the devastating impact of the HIMARS systems, describing them as “the real scourge of the Russian army.” These systems have been instrumental in targeting and obliterating Russian military assets, including weapons, equipment, and personnel.
However, the momentum of the Ukrainian offensive has slowed in recent days, not due to strong Russian resistance, but because of the stretched supply lines of the advancing Ukrainian forces.
Calls for Advanced Weaponry
Military analysts argue that this logistical challenge could be mitigated if Ukraine were granted greater access to Western long-range weapons. John Hardie, deputy director of the Russian Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, pointed to the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) as a potential game-changer.
“If the U.S. had given the green light to the ATACMS, their use on Russian territory, I think the British and perhaps the French would have followed suit with their cruise missiles that they have supplied to Ukraine,” Hardie explained. He noted that such weapons could be pivotal in striking deeper Russian targets, such as command posts and logistics hubs, that are currently out of HIMARS’ range.
Putin’s Calculated Response
Despite the Ukrainian gains, Russia continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine, applying pressure on towns like Pokrovsk and Toretsk. Yet, Ukraine’s move into the Kursk region has created a significant psychological impact. Angela Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, interpreted Ukraine’s actions as a strategic maneuver rather than a desperate one. “The Ukrainians have tried to give the Russians a dose of their own medicine: to cause some uncertainty in Russia, and perhaps to question the competence of the Russian military,” she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the significance of Ukraine’s incursion, labeling it a “large-scale provocation” rather than an act of war. On Tuesday, he announced the start of a “counter-terrorist operation” in response, carefully avoiding language that would highlight his failure to defend Russia’s borders. Russian forces have reportedly begun digging trenches in the Kursk region, attempting to fortify their positions as Ukrainian forces consolidate their gains.
Meanwhile, Kyiv is considering establishing a military commandant’s office in the occupied Russian territory, a move that would further cement Ukraine’s unprecedented advance into Russian land.
As the conflict enters a new and unpredictable phase, the focus now turns to whether Western nations will provide Ukraine with the advanced weaponry needed to sustain and expand its offensive. For now, Ukrainian forces continue to press forward, bolstered by superior intelligence and the firepower of U.S.-supplied weapons.