In a bold and unexpected move, Ukrainian forces have launched an offensive into Russia’s Kursk region using British Challenger tanks for the first time, raising tensions and strategic stakes in the ongoing conflict—here’s the full story.
Startling Military Move
In news that would have signalled the start of World War III during the Cold War, Ukraine is reportedly using a range of Western-supplied military equipment, including British Challenger 2 tanks, as part of its surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk region.
Historic British Deployment
This marks the first time that British tanks have been deployed on Russian soil and is the first time a country has invaded Russia since the Second World War.
Tactically Advantageous Success
The unexpectedly successful move, hailed by military experts as tactically advantageous, has given Ukraine a much-needed boost. The country had been on the back foot as Russian offensives gained ground in the east.
August Offensive Launched
The offensive, which began on August 6, aims to disrupt Russian military operations and shift the momentum of the war in Ukraine’s favour. Ukrainian forces are utilising various Western-supplied equipment for their complex and coordinated assault.
UK Government Silence
The UK government has officially not recognised the use of British Challenger 2 tanks in Russia, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) remains similarly tight-lipped, but an unnamed source confirmed to Sky News that some British donated Challenger 2 tanks had been used in the assault.
No Change in Policy
While neither confirming nor denying the use of British tanks in Ukraine, a MoD spokesperson stated, “There has been no change in UK government policy, under Article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia.”
Compliance With International Law
They added, “We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law.”
Shockingly Successful Offensive
In contrast to the failed Ukrainian 2023 summer counteroffensive, which was covered extensively by worldwide media before its launch and, therefore, came as no surprise to Russian forces that had prepared for weeks, Ukraine’s Kursk offensive has been shockingly successful.
Combined Arms Assaults
Western military experts have noted that Ukraine’s success in this most recent offensive is due to its use of “combined arms” assaults, which use coordinated attacks by infantry, armoured vehicles, artillery, and air support to overwhelm Russia’s defences.
Zelensky’s Bold Call
Emboldened by the success of the Kursk offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the West to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles such as the British Storm Shadow cruise missiles against Russia as, up until now, the UK government has insisted that they only be used to attack targets inside Ukraine, to avoid escalating the conflict with Russia.
Appeal for More Weapons
In a recent speech to the nation, Zelensky stated, “Our Ukrainian drones work exactly as they should, but unfortunately, there are things that cannot be done with drones alone. We need other weapons – missiles… long-range decisions for Ukraine. This must be done. The bolder our partners’ decisions, the less Putin will be able to do about it.”
Western Support, Russian Tension
So far, Western leaders have generally supported Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk. Still, tensions over potential escalation remain, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that the use of Western-supplied missiles to strike inside Russia would be viewed as an act of war.
Red Line Fears Debated
Despite these threats, some experts, like Taras Kuzio of the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, argued in the Daily Mail that the fear of Russian “red lines” leading to nuclear escalation is overstated and has, so far, proven to be “a myth.”
Remarkable Ukrainian Gains
Regardless, Ukraine’s Kursk offensive has, so far, been a remarkable success, with Ukrainian forces reportedly advancing up to 30 miles into Russian territory, capturing hundreds of Russian prisoners and forcing thousands of Russian civilians to be evacuated to neighbouring regions.
Potential Resource Strain
Though the surprise offensive has boosted Ukrainian morale, there are also concerns about the potential for the Kursk assault to stretch Ukraine’s military resources. However, Russia is also reportedly moving troops away from the front line in Ukraine to defend the motherland.
Future Negotiation Leverage
The outcome of the offensive could influence future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, with Kyiv potentially gaining leverage by holding Russian territory. However, the operation’s success will largely depend on Ukraine’s ability to maintain its momentum and gains in the face of Russian counterattacks.
Daring Yet Uncertain Phase
As the conflict enters a new phase, it remains to be seen whether Ukraine’s most daring assault yet, backed with British-made and supplied Challenger 2 tanks, will achieve any strategic goals or whether, as so many invading armies have done before, Ukraine’s will become another army to falter in its attempt to invade the world’s largest country.
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