Putin Declares Ukrainian Incursion Fails to Thwart Russian Advances in Donbas

President Vladimir Putin declared that Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region failed to stall Russian advances in Donbas. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Putin claimed that Ukraine's strategy weakened its defenses, aiding Russia's push in eastern Ukraine. Russia aims to fully control Donbas while recruitment rates in Russia rise.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Ukraine's incursion into Russia's western Kursk region had failed to slow the Russian advance in Donbas and had weakened Ukraine's own defenses along the frontline, aiding Moscow's forces.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin stated that Russian forces were pushing Ukrainian soldiers out from Kursk, where they launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since World War Two on Aug. 6. By transferring large numbers of well-trained units into Russia's border region, Ukraine had inadvertently weakened its defenses, permitting Russia to quicken its advance in eastern Ukraine, he said.

Putin emphasized that the enemy's aim was to disrupt Russian strategies and cause reallocations of troops, particularly in key areas like Donbas, but these tactics had failed. He added that Russia's primary goal is to take control of Donbas entirely and noted that recruitment rates in Russia are increasing.

(With inputs from agencies.)