Luke Coffey
For the first time in more than 80 years, Russian territory has been invaded. Ukrainian forces crossed the state border in a surprise move, entering the Kursk Oblast with thousands of troops and hundreds of armored vehicles.
There has been heavy fighting, with Russia scrambling to reinforce the area. The Ukrainians have captured more than 70 villages. More than 130,000 Russian civilians have been displaced since Ukraine launched its operation on Aug. 6. According to open-source intelligence, Ukraine now controls approximately 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory — an area slightly larger than Bahrain.
While Ukraine’s audacious military operation may have caught some off guard, the location and timing of this offensive were far from coincidental.
Kursk Oblast has deep historical ties to Ukrainian culture. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Ukrainian peasants, Cossacks, and other settlers were granted “slobodas” in what is now modern-day Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh oblasts in Russia, and Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts in Ukraine. This region was known as Sloboda Ukraine. These slobodas enjoyed significant governing autonomy and tax-free status, fostering a unique cultural identity that is still evident to this day. Although accurate census data is scarce, it is believed that tens of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians currently reside in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Consequently, a military operation in Kursk resonates positively, emotionally and sentimentally with the Ukrainian public.
Kursk Oblast is also home to crucial transport links, including major highways for the movement of military supplies and troops. The Sudzha gas terminal, critical for the remaining Russian natural gas exports to Europe, is in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainians control the terminal, but there has been no noticeable reduction in gas flow thus far. The Kursk railway hub connects central Russia with southwestern regions, including the border areas near Ukraine, making it vital for logistical support. Ukrainian military planners were undoubtedly aware of the logistical importance of Kursk.
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