Russian troops appear to have halted the northward advance of Ukrainian soldiers who launched a surprise cross-border attack five days ago, but have not stopped their eastward push, military analysts say, as Moscow tries to contain Kyiv’s largest assault into Russian territory since the start of the war. Yet despite any Russian boasting that might garner, the incursion into the southwestern region of Kursk has also prompted questions over how it was allowed to happen in the first place. Andrei Gurulyov, a retired military officer who is now a member of Parliament, on Friday condemned Russia’s response and level of preparedness. “There is no military system in place for guarding the state border, no reserves and no second lines of defense,” he said on Telegram, adding, “If the Ukrainian Armed Forces spent two months preparing for this, how did we miss it?”The assault has also left analysts wondering why Ukraine would take such a risk, with some suggesting a desire to draw Russian troops away from the front lines. On Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine alluded to another possible benefit: newly captured Russian troops who could be traded for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

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Persons: Andrei Gurulyov, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Ukrainian Armed Forces Locations: Moscow, Kursk, Ukraine, Russian