By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies

KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ bold offensive in Russia’s Kursk region has caught not only Moscow but the entire global community by surprise. In a recent interview with German news agency DW, former U.S. Army Europe commander, General Ben Hodges, praised the operation as a masterstroke that has exposed the Kremlin’s nuclear threats as nothing more than a bluff.

General Hodges highlighted the significance of the Ukrainian operation, stating that it has decisively shattered the fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin would resort to nuclear weapons if faced with military setbacks. “The worst he [Putin] could do was launch a missile at yet another Ukrainian supermarket. We’ve been holding back for too long,” Hodges remarked, emphasizing that the West’s caution in the face of Russia’s nuclear rhetoric may have been overly cautious.

The operation, which involved a surprise advance deep into the Kursk region, has demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to outmaneuver Russian forces and catch them off guard. According to Hodges, Russian military leaders, including Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, failed to anticipate the Ukrainian move, despite intelligence signals that such an operation was being planned.

“Ukrainians have taught us a lesson,” Hodges said. “Even amidst the drone-dominated battlefield, operations of such magnitude can be prepared. Commander Gerasimov and his General Staff ignored intelligence signals that Ukraine was planning an invasion.”

Hodges also emphasized that Ukraine’s offensive is a defensive strategy rather than an attempt to annex Russian territories. He pointed out that Ukraine is applying classic military doctrine, choosing the right moment to strike, distracting the enemy, and relieving pressure on its forces.

“This is how Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression. We are witnessing a classic military doctrine in action: choose the right moment, distract the enemy, and ease the pressure on your forces,” Hodges explained.

The Ukrainian operation in Kursk, combined with Hodges’ statements, may further alter the perception of the war, demonstrating that Russia’s nuclear threats are less credible than previously thought. As the conflict continues to unfold, Ukraine’s ability to execute such operations could have significant implications for the broader war effort and the international community’s response to Russia’s ongoing aggression.