How many troops does Russia need to retake Kursk: WSJ analysis.

In Kursk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a successful offensive that inspired Ukrainians and prompted the West to assist once again. This information was published by The Wall Street Journal. According to journalists, the speed and scale of Ukraine's offensive amazed the world, as this is the first Time since World War II that foreign troops have occupied Russian soil.

According to an unknown Ukrainian official, the Ukrainian army liberated 2000 prisoners and captured significant territory that the Russians had occupied for the past few months. However, the leading publication WSJ notes that this was an extraordinary turnaround for Russian President Putin, who promised to destroy Ukrainian troops but has yet to mount a counterattack. To drive out the Ukrainians, Russia will have to send even more troops and cause destruction to its own cities and villages with artillery bombardments, as it has done throughout Ukraine.

Challenges for Ukraine

However, Ukraine will face challenges in using its offensive. It has already deployed thousands of troops into battle, and sending even more may divert resources needed to hold back the Russians on the main front line in the Donetsk region. Therefore, Ukraine needs a higher level of support from the USA and their allies, which has yet to be provided, indicates WSJ.

The Biden administration has prohibited Ukraine from using US-provided Atacms missiles for strikes on Russia and does not provide information about Russian targets from domestic intelligence. Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces are successfully using American equipment on Russian territory.

According to WSJ, the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 was ineffective and took many lives. The troops then captured several villages but failed to break through Russian defensive lines. Since then, Russia has been slowly continuing a harsh offensive with heavy losses.

Ukraine found a way: bypass

Preparation for the operation in the Kursk region lasted for a year. Ukraine used drones to attack Russian infrastructure. According to the publication, Ukrainian drones destroyed surveillance systems at the border post before the operation began.

In eastern and southern Ukraine, western equipment was less effective due to minefields and Russian drones. However, in the Kursk region, Ukrainian troops quickly advanced without resistance, bypassing towns and villages. According to a drone operator, they advanced so quickly that it was difficult to keep up with them.

Rosieva near the town of Rylsk was hit by missiles fired from the Himars system, which were provided by the USA. The equipped missile launchers were positioned in the border areas of Ukraine, and they successfully attacked a Russian convoy of military vehicles, causing significant damage.

Ukraine is also trying to complicate the access of Russian reinforcements to the front lines by attacking railway junctions and bridges. However, according to analysts, Ukraine lost dozens of armored vehicles in nine days, but it has mobilized reserve forces to ensure security on the front.

Western observers believe that to regain the lost territory, Russia will have to withdraw more troops from Ukraine to bolster its forces. Meanwhile, Russia is creating fortifications on its own territory.

The operation in the Kursk region had been considered long ago in Kyiv. President Zelensky spoke about the success of the operation in an interview.