Why Ukraine Invaded Russia for First Time in Conflict

Ukraine’s lightning intervention into Russian territory shows that a war apparently stuck in a prolonged stalemate can still produce surprises. More than a week after the assault on Russia’s western Kursk region began, Ukrainian troops appeared to be holding areas they had seized. It’s an embarrassment for Russian President Vladimir Putin who, having failed to topple the leadership in Kyiv in more than two years of intense fighting, is now grappling with the first foreign invasion of his country since World War II.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had been looking to launch an attack that would shock the leadership in Moscow and put Putin on the backfoot, according to a Western official familiar with the planning. If Russia fails to repel the Ukrainians, it will raise morale in Kyiv and help to protect parts of Ukraine from constant shelling by Russia. It could also potentially blunt the advance of Russian troops in the Donetsk region further south by forcing the Kremlin’s military leadership to send troops and resources to counter the incursion. Ukrainian forces also claim to have captured lots of Russian soldiers who can be exchanged for their own troops in future prisoner swaps.