What's happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine's recent offensive into Russia's Kursk region was kept secret from allies and even its own soldiers. The surprise attack on August 6 resulted in significant territorial gains for Ukraine, capturing nearly 400 square miles of Russian land.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Business Insider, Zelensky stated, "This is why nobody had been informed about our preparations," emphasizing the need for secrecy to ensure success. The South China Morning Post reported that even Ukrainian soldiers were unaware of the plans until shortly before the attack, with one soldier humorously noting, "We joked that it wasn't April 1st." This level of secrecy allowed Ukraine to catch Russian forces off guard, leading to significant territorial gains, as noted by Oleksandr Syrskyi, who stated that Ukraine had captured nearly 400 square miles of territory in just days. The effectiveness of this strategy raises questions about Russian military readiness and the potential for future Ukrainian offensives.
How we got here
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated since 2022, with Ukraine seeking to reclaim territories occupied by Russian forces. Recent military strategies have focused on surprise offensives to regain lost ground.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.