Russia and Ukraine on the Offensive - Kursk, the Donbass & Escalating Long-Range Strikes

At times, the war in Ukraine has had a relatively clear division between the power currently on the offensive, and the opposing force standing on the defensive. For most of the war Russia has held the initiative, and in 2024 that clearly remains the case along much of the front. But as Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region continues, it’s become clear that the Russia may not hold a monopoly on battlefield initiative, and there are questions as to what the duelling offensives, Ukraine in Kursk and Russia elsewhere, are ultimately achieving for both sides. In this episode, we zoom in on the developments in Kursk and Pokrovsk, look at the escalation of the long-range strike efforts, including the reported development of new systems like Ukrainian jet powered attack drones, and ask how, and if, these current efforts might be shaping the conflict at a strategic level. Patreon: Caveats, Comments and Corrections: All normal caveats and disclaimers apply In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other decisions or purposes Sources & Reading: To be completed by 04/09 due to late release Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Opening Words 00:01:04 — What Am I Talking About? 00:01:36 — Catching Up 00:02:54 — Kursk Now 00:07:17 — Korenevo 00:09:15 — Glushkovo 00:14:42 — Other Ukrainian Operations 00:17:06 — Russia’s Offensive 00:20:48 — Pokrovsk 00:25:25 — Evaluating The Balance 00:32:41 — Long Range Strike Campaign - Ukraine 00:33:30 — Impact 00:44:24 — Enter The Bread Missile 00:52:56 — Risks And The Way Forward 00:56:23 — Making An Impression 00:59:01 — Conclusions 01:00:35 — Channel Update