The purpose of the hostilities in Kursk region, in which the Ukrainian military is taking part, is to deal a public blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, both among Russians and in the West. This was stated by the adviser to the head of the Presidential Administration , Mykhailo Podolyak, in an in an interview to the Russian media outlet Medusa, reports [Kommersant].
“It should be obvious to our partners that Russia is not strong enough to control the internal risks that are gradually increasing due to the war,” Podolyak said.
According to the advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, the Russian officials and military leadership were caught off guard by the offensive in Kursk region and showed their inability to make quick, effective decisions and prove by their actions that they have little control over the situation.
“In this sense, little has changed since the ‘Wagnerian march’ of 2023,” Podoliak said.
Another goal he stated is to move the war to the territory of Russia.
“When we entered the Kursk region, we saw how shocked people were: they live in a different reality. It seems to them that the war is already going on almost on the territory of Europe, and they have no risks,” the adviser to the head of the OP told reporters.
He also named two other goals of the Ukrainian military operation in the Kursk region. According to him, it is necessary to move Russian artillery away from Ukraine and cut off the logistics of bringing reserves to the front.
“Ukraine is not aiming to occupy this territory, but is waging a defensive war and is destroying only military facilities,” Podolyak said.