Ex-NATO official named five goals of the AFU operation in Kursk region.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region successfully planned an operation, which allowed surprising the Russian occupation army. This opinion was expressed by NATO expert Stephanie Babst in an interview with Bild.

According to Babst, the AFU has five goals in this operation:

1. Pressure on Putin

According to the expert, the AFU put the Russians in a defensive position, which will help create a sense of pressure on Putin.

2. Show their own combat capability

This operation demonstrates Ukraine's strength and will help convince allies to lift restrictions on arms supplies.

3. Restrain the Russian offensive on other fronts

The AFU distract the Russians from Donbas and Kharkiv regions and force them to redirect forces to stop the Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region.

4. Capture the Kursk NPP for exchange for the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Although this assumption is difficult to implement, the expert doubts its feasibility due to the complexity of the process.

5. A blow to Russia's gas exports

Babst believes that the AFU may try to capture the gas metering station in Sudzha, which would deal a significant blow to Russia's gas exports.

It should be reminded that Russian soldiers are preparing to defend the Kursk NPP due to the approaching AFU.

It is also worth noting that the Russian Ministry of Defense has counted the combat capabilities to counteract Ukrainian forces in the Sudzha area.