Ukrainian forces take unprecedented action in Kursk offensive
"Operation Kursk" shocked not only the Russians but also the Ukrainian officers. Some commanders who attended the secret meeting with Ukrainian Chief Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi believed he was bluffing to intimidate the Russians, writes "The Wall Street Journal".
The Wall Street Journal writes that Ukrainian Chief Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi's plan to attack the Kursk region in the Russian Federation surprised not only the Russians but also the Ukrainian officers.
The plans for the Ukrainian offensive were kept strictly confidential for a long time. According to "The Wall Street Journal", Syrskyi gathered the top officers at a secret meeting at the end of July, during which he presented the offensive plan. The General is said to have announced that the Ukrainian army would "swap roles with Moscow", conducting the first invasion of Russia since World War II.
One of those present, the Chief of Staff of the 61st Mechanized Brigade, admitted that his initial reaction was shock. Lieutenant Colonel Artem Kholodkevych revealed his first thought: "where are we going?". He added that they dispelled the myth that Russia is an invincible country; they did something no one has done in 80 years.
Syrskyi's strength lies in the fact that he is a general who acts unconventionally, suddenly, and unexpectedly for the enemy. He knows that we do not have parity, so he uses cunning and every advantage we have, comments Serhiy Cherevatyi, a former adviser to Syrskyi on communications.
Ukraine decides how to defend itself
On Saturday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg commented on the "Kursk operation." He believes that Ukraine took a risk by entering Russian territory, but it is up to them how they conduct this military operation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has clarified that the operation aims to create a buffer zone to prevent further Russian attacks. (…) Like all military operations, this comes with risks. But it is Ukraine's decision how to defend itself, Stoltenberg emphasized in the German newspaper "Welt am Sonntag."
