A Russian special forces unit commander, Apti Alaudinov, reassured parents of conscripts that their children would go to heaven if they died defending their country in Kursk, emphasizing their duty to protect it.
Even NATO officials were taken by surprise when Ukraine launched its counteroffensive on August 6, resulting in them capturing roughly 386 square miles of Russian territory in a short period.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, there's a stark contrast between the amount of territory seized by Russia this year and the rapid gains made by Ukraine after the incursion.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that they did not inform their allies about the offensive because he believed they would deem the plan unrealistic, highlighting the element of surprise in their strategy.
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