Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely “putting on a brave face” as he deals with Ukraine’s invasion into the Kursk region, says our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.
According to Russian officials, nearly 200,000 people have been forced to evacuate from border regions following last week’s surprise Ukrainian attack.
Haynes says it will be “impossible” for Mr Putin to hide the invasion from his people, with the story “all across” Telegram channels and on state-held Russian media.
“For a politician, a former spy, who has spent his career building a reputation of being a strong man, to have his country invaded in this way(…) it must be a huge blow to President Putin,” she says.
“Whether he acknowledges that in his private moments, who knows? He’s obviously putting on a brave face.”
Just how far Ukraine’s advances into Kursk continue is unknown.
Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s forces were continuing to move in the border region and had moved forward by one to two kilometres in difference directions since the start of the day.
The country’s top commander also said Ukraine had captured 100 Russian prisoners of war during the previous 24 hours.
Despite all this, it’s important not to write off Mr Putin, who, as Haynes points out, has faced “perilous moments” in the past.
“You’ll remember that mutiny last year of his mercenary chief, the Wagner boss, who attempted a storm on Moscow, which did peter out, and President Putin did survive. So it’s important not to count him out.
“He’s ordered his commanders to repel this Ukrainian assault. But as we keep hearing from the Ukrainian side, they are pushing further in.
“And from what I saw yesterday, there’s clearly a lot of armour still heading in the direction of Russia.”
