Some of the high-ranking commanders of the Ukrainian army, including the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, opposed the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region. As writes According to Politico, Zaluzhny was among those who objected to the operation when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi first proposed it earlier this year.
According to the publication, among other commanders who also expressed doubts about the offensive was Emil Ishkulov, commander of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade. He was dismissed in July, despite protests from senior officers who insisted that he be retained.
Two senior Ukrainian military officials who agreed to speak anonymously to Politico said Ishkulov was opposed to the Kursk operation because of concerns that his brigade could find itself in a vulnerable position on Russian territory and that casualties among the Ukrainian military could rise sharply.
Zaluzhny also expressed doubts about this operation, believing that after the successful breakthrough of the border by the elite Ukrainian units of four brigades, there was no clear plan for further actions. According to officials, he asked: what to do after capturing the bridgehead? He never received an answer from President Zelensky, which made him feel that the operation was too risky.
Zaluzhny did not respond to requests for comment on the operation in the Kursk region. Politico was also unable to reach Ishkulov, but his colleague declined to comment.
The article notes that the issue raised by Zaluzhny remains important, as both Western and Ukrainian experts fear that Ukrainian forces could be trapped inside Russian territory and suffer a crushing defeat, demoralizing the army.
So far, Zaluzhnyi has not made any public statements regarding the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region.
