The four-day old Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory marks a new phase in their fight against the brutal invasion that's almost two-and-a-half years along (not counting their illegal annexation of Ukrainian Crimea in 2014). The incursion caught the Russians by surprise, and now they are rushing forces to the Kursk region, as reported by Reuters:
"Russia moved extra tanks, artillery and rocket systems to its southern Kursk region on Friday as it battled for the fourth straight day to end a shock incursion by Ukrainian forces.
In new evidence of the damage inflicted since the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, video posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed a convoy of about 15 burnt-out Russian military trucks spaced out along a highway in the Kursk region, some containing dead bodies. [snip]
Ben Barry, land warfare analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said that while its wider strategic goals remained unclear, Ukraine had exposed Russian shortcomings and overturned the conventional wisdom on the war that the battlefield was "transparent" and neither side could advance without heavy losses.
'They clearly have achieved a degree of surprise which suggests that Russia's ability to do intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is inadequate,' he said in a phone interview." (our emphasis)
This follows a report from Reuters of a massive drone attack on a Russian military airfield and power station in the Lipetsk region:
"Russia evacuated people on Friday from parts of its western region of Lipetsk after a 'massive attack' by Ukrainian drones caused explosions, disrupted power supply and wounded nine people, regional governor Igor Artamonov said. [snip]
A fire had broken out at the air base outside Lipetsk city, the Interfax news agency reported, citing local emergency officials."
Aljazeera has additional reporting:
"....Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies reported a fire had broken out at a military airfield outside the city of Lipetsk, which has a population of about half a million people.
Lipetsk lies about 460 kilometres (286 miles) south of Moscow and about 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Ukraine’s eastern border.
Four villages were being evacuated after a local state of emergency was declared in the Lipetsk municipal district." (our emphasis)
The damage from these attacks is only a fraction of the widespread damage the Russian war criminals have done, and continue to do, to Ukraine. But it's satisfying to know that Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia will make them feel some of the sting of their crimes.
(photo: Lipetsk-2 airfield on fire; photo via X/@SteffRichard73)
