West backed Ukrainian attack on Kursk – Politico
Ukraine’s Western backers do not object to Kiev’s large-scale incursion into Russian territory, Politico reported on Friday, citing officials.
Ukraine launched an attack on Kursk Region on Tuesday in what is its largest assault on Russian territory since the outbreak of the conflict. The Russian Defense Ministry estimated at the time that the Ukrainian offensive force consisted of up to 1,000 soldiers and dozens of armored vehicles, including some supplied by the West.
On Friday, however, Forbes claimed that the attack involved “at least three brigades,” each with up to 2,000 troops, including some of the best-equipped units in the Ukrainian army.
Politico reported that some of Ukraine’s Western backers that had previously voiced concerns about escalation in the conflict gave a “greenish” light to the attack, adding that there “there is no sign” that they “are putting pressure on Kiev to ease off.”
The head of the German parliamentary Defense Committee, Marcus Faber, has said he is not opposed to Ukraine using German-made weapons on Russian soil. His comments came after Bild reported that German Marder infantry fighting vehicles were being used in Kursk Region. This would be the first case of German armor operating in the area since the giant tank clash between Soviet and Nazi forces at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943.
European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said on Wednesday that the EU “fully support[s] Ukraine’s legitimate right to defend itself,” including “by striking the aggressor on its territory.” The Pentagon echoed this sentiment, saying that it had no issues with the operation. “It is consistent with our policy,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh has said.
The Kremlin denounced the attack as a provocation and accused Ukrainian troops of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, have said that the main purpose of the operation was to instill fear among the Russian population and gain leverage in possible negotiations with Moscow.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that that the Ukrainian advance had been halted, although fighting continues in Kursk Region, including on the outskirts of the town of Sudzha, some 9km from the border. It also added that air and missile strikes had been carried out on Ukrainian reserves across the border. The ministry has estimated Kiev’s losses at up to 1,100 troops and 140 armored vehicles since the start of the incursion.
