The surprise incursion by Ukrainian troops into Russian territory is not only extraordinary but risky. This is the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since the second world war.
The smartness of the tactics is striking. Ukraine appears to have identified and capitalised on a weak spot, acting so swiftly and secretly that one fighter described driving into a Russian unit as they sat drinking coffee. The strategy is less clear.
Kyiv also says that the advance has complicated Russian logistics. Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine wants leverage ahead of ceasefire talks. Kyiv denies any interest in the long-term occupation of Kursk.
The startling incursion appears to have raised flagging spirits in Ukraine. It has created a renewed sense of momentum, which is helpful in bolstering western support: it counters suggestions that Ukraine is steadily sliding to defeat.
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