Stanisland Magazine

Kyiv forces have advanced into Russian-controlled territory, facing little opposition as they secure large areas of Kremlin-controlled land.

More than a decade has passed since Ukraine was invaded by Russia’s proxy forces in the Donbas region, of what seemed to be a metronomic war. Much has changed within the past week of the conflict, with the country’s forces now turning their attention to a counter-strike against the Kremlin. Since I left Ukraine, the conflict has sprawled into an unforgiving landscape of unpredictable violence, one where a missile could fall out of the sky from anywhere.

Prior to the 2022 invasion, Zelensky was viewed as somewhat of a controversial figure in Ukraine, with some going as far as to describe his election to office as a Brexit-meets-Donald Trump moment.

He was often described as being a ‘stooge’ of Putin and the less favourable of the contenders, given that Petro Poroshenko had steered the country through a largely transitional moment in history. The monumental shift from tycoon leader to comedy candidate was enough to shock most of the country, if not the world, bringing attention to the Eastern European territory.

What is happening in Ukraine?

In the past few days, Ukraine invaded Russia, turning the tables on its aggressor with an unprecedented move.

The National Guard has swiftly entered the Kursk region without facing significant opposition. The goal is likely to be an attempt to draw troops away from other areas and into this new battleground, hoping to thin the herd.

How Did The Ukrainian Army Successfully Enter Russia?

The Ukrainian army was able to enter Russia with ease. They did this by telephoning local civilians, posing as government officials, and ordering them to evacuate. This, in turn, caused massive traffic jams, which slowed the Russian military response.

The Ukrainian army tried to enter Russia last year, though were quickly repelled.

Volodomir Zelensky said that they have faced little resistance, which many anaylsts attribute to Vladimir Putin‘s distribution of troops to the Donbas region, suggesting that he fell complacent.

Now, armed with Western artillery, fighter jets and tanks, Kyiv’s forces could potentially, without sounding too sensationalist, make a push for the Kremlin.

The Situation Remains Unpredictable

Despite swift gains for Ukraine, the situation could change rapidly as Putin begins to wake up to the reality of blue and yellow soldiers arriving to control large swathes of Russian land. It only takes a small shift in instructions for the tide to turn, unless the Ukrainians have accounted for plan b.

READ MORE: Biden’s Plan to Supply ATACMS Missiles Boosts Ukraine’s Counter-Offensive

In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said: “Now all of us in Ukraine should act as unitedly and efficiently as we did in the first weeks and months of this war, when Ukraine took the initiative and began to turn the situation to the benefit of our state.”

Professor Robert Murrett, who is deputy director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law, commented on the developing events, and said that the next few days will be a volatile period that could decide the outcome of Kyiv‘s incursion into Kremlin-controlled territory. “The situation is still highly fluid, but with clear signs that the Russian command and control of responding units is still coming together, with all-important unity of command not yet achieved.”

In the city of Sudzha, Ukrainian troops were filmed pulling down Russian flags and replacing them with Ukraine’s.

Be aware that in the early stages of any new phase of a conflict, disinformation will run rampant online. It is best to monitor the situation and evaluate developments as the dust settles. Platforms to avoid include X and Facebook.