What's happened
As of November 1, 2024, Ukraine's military is struggling to maintain its positions in the Kursk region, where Russian forces have regained significant territory. The ongoing conflict raises concerns about U.S. support for Ukraine amid upcoming elections, impacting the war's trajectory.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Ukraine's military is facing a morale dip and recruitment struggles, with about 57,000 soldiers killed in action. The article highlights that while Russia has made gains, it has not achieved its primary objectives, such as capturing Pokrovsk. In contrast, Business Insider UK reports that Ukraine's strategy in Kursk allows for tactical retreats, enabling them to fight on advantageous terrain without the burden of defending Russian cities. Warfare expert William Alberque notes that Russia is reclaiming 'the easier parts' of the territory, suggesting that Ukraine's initial territorial gains were more than they could realistically defend. This nuanced view underscores the complexity of the conflict and the varying perspectives on military strategy and political implications.
How we got here
Since August 2024, Ukrainian forces have engaged in operations in the Kursk region of Russia, initially capturing substantial territory. However, recent Russian advances have reversed some of these gains, complicating Ukraine's military strategy.
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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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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RAND Corporation is an American nonprofit global policy think tank created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces.