US Abrams, UK Challenger II and German Leopard II Tanks Used in Initial Kursk Offensive

By Cameron Curtis

Zelensky’s Gamble

For weeks, Volodymyr Zelensky has been trying to convince the leaders of the US, UK, France, and Germany to support long-range missile strikes into Pre-2014 Russian territory. He has not received approval because such attacks would constitute a dangerous escalation.

Last Thursday, in a desperate effort to stave off defeat, Zelensky presented his “Victory Plan” to the European Council Summit in Brussels. The plan has shocked the world and left western leaders shaking. Here is the story.

Ukraine’s Kursk II Offensive

In August, to make headlines and pressure Russia, Ukraine transferred its best troops from the east and south to Sumy in the north. Sumy sits across the border from Kursk in Russia. Ukraine committed its last NATO tanks, including up to 28 Abrams, German Leopard IIs, and a handful of British Challenger IIs. The US and Germany gave Ukraine Patriot and IRIS-T missile batteries to protect Kiev. Ukraine forward-deployed those to Sumy. From there, Ukraine invaded Russia at a quiet, thinly defended sector of the front. Their objective was almost certainly to capture the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and a number of Russian nuclear weapons storage depots.

Things looked good for a while. German Bundeswehr officers cheered the “Big Cats” rolling on the steppes of Kursk. The sight of German tanks, emblazoned with iron crosses and Nordic runes, rolling through Kursk, drove the Russian troops insane with rage.

The Kursk invasion enjoyed early success, but was halted by Russian border guards who held until reinforced by Russian Naval Infantry (Marines) and a fierce Chechen Akhmat Special Forces battalion. Russian missile and air power was decisive. The attack was stopped miles from its objectives.