Ukraine is reeling from a missile strike by Russia, the largest attack since the start of the war. Russia suggests that Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast breached their border, leading to the large-scale strikes on critical infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy anticipated Russia’s retaliation and accepted the risk to stay in the fight, seeking more weapons and financing from the West. The removal of restrictions for the use of U.S.-provided weapons is desired so Ukrainian forces can strike deeper inside Russia.
On Ukrainian Independence Day, over 100 POWs were swapped with Russia as the conflict escalated. Russia launched 100 missiles and drones as Ukraine invaded the Kursk region, causing significant damage to energy infrastructure and civilian casualties. Zelenskyy criticized Western allies for limiting Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, calling for greater cooperation to protect lives. Russia retaliated with a second strike, targeting the Zaporizhzhia region, but Ukraine managed to shoot down several missiles and drones using newly-deployed F16s.
Ukraine began compiling a list of long-range targets to strike if restrictions on defensive capabilities are lifted, aiming to divert Russia’s attention from other areas. General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported Russia’s attempts to disrupt supply lines but noted that the Kursk invasion forced Moscow to redeploy thousands of servicemen to the front. Despite Ukraine’s success in the conflict, there are concerns about the war of attrition and Russia’s efforts to degrade Ukraine’s capacity.
Efforts for peace continue, with world leaders attempting to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited both Zelenskyy and Putin, seeking a path forward for peace as he assumed the rotating chair of the European Union. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also played a role in peace talks, meeting with Zelenskyy and discussing the crisis with Biden and Putin. Modi stressed the need for both sides to come together to resolve the conflict, despite past interactions with Putin causing tension.
While there is a glimmer of hope for peace talks, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate. The key question remains whether the Biden-Harris Administration will change policy to allow Ukraine to be more aggressive in eroding Russia’s red lines. As the war continues, both sides are strategizing to gain the upper hand, with Russia seeking to deter future strikes and compel the West to stop assisting Ukraine, while Ukraine aims to defend its territory and seek support from its allies.
