An offensive that shakes the Kremlin: how the leading Western media reacted to the Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region

The audacious attack on the Kursk region, which has been ongoing for several days, calls into question the reliability of Russian security and the Kremlin’s ability to control the situation on its own territory. Leading world publications note that, despite the lack of detailed information, this operation appears to be the result of the actions of the Ukrainian military, not Russian opposition groups. Analysts reflect on the strategic goals of the Ukrainian offensive, write about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Donbas and the important psychological effect of Kyiv’s asymmetric actions. The increase in gas prices is recorded due to the sensitivity of the European market to “alarming” news. We offer you a short media review.

A leading British publication The Guardian admits: there is not much information, but this time the operation looks like an attack by the Ukrainian military, and not by Russian opposition groups. The paper speculates that Ukrainian officials are keeping quiet as the invasion progresses and are driven by a desire not to appear triumphant or give away too much information about their intentions. The Guardian speculates that the attack on the Kursk region is most likely an attempt by Ukraine, whose defenses are stretched across the eastern Donbas front, to draw some of the Russian forces away to protect a section of the front line that has been largely inactive since the start of the war.

Without naming names, the publication quotes critics of the Kursk breakthrough who claim that such attacks have no long-term military purpose. They said that anti-Kremlin Russian groups attacked Belgorod and Kursk regions from Ukraine in March, but were repulsed without strategic advantage. The newspaper speculates that the target of the invasion could be the Kursk nuclear power plant.

Edition Bloomberg calls the attack on the Kursk region one of the most daring, because it brings Putin’s war back to his territory and undermines his claims to be able to guarantee the safety of ordinary Russians. The publication also complains about the lack of information, because Ukrainian officials remain silent about the operation and its possible goals. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense declined to comment, and the press service of the General Staff did not return calls.

At the same time, Bloomberg quotes the spokesman of the National Security Council of the White House, John Kirby, and reports that the United States has not changed its policy on allowing Ukraine to use American weapons “to fight immediate threats across the border.”

Bloomberg also reports that European gas prices rose to their highest level this year following reports that Ukrainian armed forces had seized a key gas transit point near the border with Russia. Gas futures rose 4.8% to 38.45 euros per megawatt hour, the highest since December.

The Suzhan station is part of the last remaining pipeline that supplies Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. Despite Europe’s desire to wean itself off pipeline gas from Russia at the onset of full-scale war, a total supply cut could still be a shock that would push up prices for consumers and industry. Certain parts of the European continent are still dependent on Russian gas.

The Ukrainian operator of the gas transportation system noted in the daily update that the flows for Thursday remain within the normal range. Bloomberg quotes the former CEO of Ukraine’s GTS operator, Serhiy Makogon, as saying that “the gas flow is stable, without changes. If Ukraine wanted to stop the flow, it could do so without capturing Suja.”

However, the gas market in Europe is extremely sensitive to any news about possible supply disruptions. The events in the Kursk region caused panic in the market, as even small changes in nominations (applications for supply) could lead to a significant increase in prices.

And gas prices in Europe are currently sensitive to any supply risk, especially now that global competition for liquefied natural gas is growing.

Analysts Bloomberg Intelligence Patricio Álvarez and João Martins consider the market reaction to be an exaggeration given that the problematic route carries flows that meet only 3-5% of demand in Europe.

German resource Frankfurter Rundschau writes that the Ukrainian armed forces managed to carry out an unexpected offensive on the Kursk region. The publication also writes about the threats of the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, to expand the invasion of Ukraine and give the war a “frankly extraterritorial character.”

German edition The world writes about the Ukrainian attack on the Russian Federation and reports that Ukrainian troops have apparently advanced much further into Russian territory than Moscow previously acknowledged. So far, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed hostilities in the Kursk region, and Kremlin leader Putin spoke of a “serious provocation by Kyiv.”

The Swiss daily newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung provides details of the “harsh provocation” in its report: “The offensive is supported by air attacks. Missile signals rang out in Kursk all day. According to Russian information, at least three civilians have been killed so far. Due to hostilities, thousands of residents left the Russian border. The leadership of the Ukrainian army does not comment on the current battles.”

The publication writes about the important “psychological effect” and about the “prophylactic nature” of the invasion of the Kursk region by the Ukrainian military. Quoting an unnamed Ukrainian officer who gave a comment to the Nexta news channel, NZZ notes: the Ukrainian offensive forces Russia to reorganize its troops and therefore has a preventive nature.

Swiss edition Time reports on the dispute between Russian military correspondents and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which calls the Ukrainian offensive “a simple invasion”. In their opinion, a large-scale military operation is taking place, which has been prepared for a long time and is aimed at firmly capturing a large part of Russian territory – even the nuclear power plant located in Kurchatov, about forty kilometers from Kursk.

French edition The World reports on the criticism of the military command of the Russian Federation by military analysts, outraged by the fact that it was “incapable of resisting the Ukrainian invasion that began the day before in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.” The publication quotes Russian bloggers who call the military headquarters of the Russian Federation unnecessary and the leadership liars.