Thread by @revishvilig

Very interesting piece by WSJ about Ukraine's Kursk offensive:
- Preparations began earlier this summer as Ukraine used drones to attack infrastructure in Kursk, from the power grid to ammunition and fuel-storage depots and surveillance equipment. 1/11 ⬇️

- Members of an anti-Kremlin paramilitary group backed by Ukrainian military intelligence carried out raids across the border, probing for weak spots and conducting reconnaissance. 2/11

- Two weeks before the operation began, Ukrainian drones destroyed Russian observation systems at a border post on the road to Kursk. 3/11

- Ukrainian electronic-warfare units went into Russian territory ahead of the main mechanized assault forces to jam Russian equipment to stop Russian forces from pinpointing Ukrainian positions or intercepting their communications. 4/11

- That unusual, early deployment—created a protective bubble around advancing Ukrainian assault forces.
Ukrainian mechanized troops with Western equipment raced down Russian roads with little resistance. 5/11

Within hours, they had advanced miles into Russian territory, driving past towns and villages rather than attacking them head-on. 6/11

Ukrainian artillery quickly moved deeper into Russian territory. On the outskirts of Sudzha, the crew from the 44th Brigade targeted Russian equipment and soldiers on the main highway from Kursk. 7/11

Western military estimates suggest Ukraine has committed as many as 6,000 soldiers to Kursk and has up to 4,000 additional troops in support roles in the Sumy region. 8/11

To avoid weakening the front line, a substantial number of the troops came from a reserve force Ukraine had been building with Western encouragement for operations later this year and in 2025, according to the person familiar with the operation. 9/11

Russia might have to pull more troops out of Ukraine if it wants to take the territory back, which would require a larger force than the Ukrainians and would probably need to number more than 20,000 properly trained personnel. 10/11

Satellite imagery, meanwhile, shows that Russia is hastily digging antitank ditches and other fortifications more than 30 miles from the border. 11/11

Source: wsj.com/world/behind-u…

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