Ukraine Invites UN and Red Cross to Kursk Region
The Ukrainian government has extended formal invitations to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit the Kursk region. This move is seen as an attempt to legitimize its ongoing occupation of southern Russian territory.
Ukraine's Invitation to International Bodies
The invitation was made public by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Monday. He stated that the request was made to the international organizations to "prove [Ukraine’s] adherence to international humanitarian law".
The Ukrainian forces, which have been occupying the territory since August 6th, have been accused by the Kremlin of committing atrocities and abuses against civilians. Despite this, the Zelensky government maintains that its forces control approximately 100 settlements on the Russian side near the border.
Sybiha has stated that the Ukraine forces are providing "humanitarian assistance" and "safe passage" to Russian civilians still in the Kursk region.
Response to Ukraine's Request
The UN and Red Cross have not yet issued a formal response to Ukraine's request for them to send teams to assess the situation. However, Moscow has criticized the move as a provocation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to the invitations as a "pure provocation". He also stated that he expects "a sober assessment" from the international bodies.
Russia has already initiated legal cases against Western journalists who have crossed into Kursk while embedded with the Ukrainian army. This includes a CNN team and some European correspondents. Russia views any international presence on its territory as a violation of Russian law and as part of an 'illegal' occupation.
Ukraine's Perspective on the Kursk Operation
From Ukraine's viewpoint, the Kursk operation is a legitimate reciprocal invasion, despite the risks and the likelihood of failure. The hope in Kiev is that Russia will be forced to divert manpower from Ukraine's east, where the front lines of fighting are, to Kursk.
However, this does not seem to have occurred yet on a large scale. Instead, President Putin appears to be patiently waiting while Ukraine's own manpower and resources continue to be depleted both in Donetzk and Kursk.
Bottom Line
This development brings to light the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The invitation extended by Ukraine to international bodies could be seen as a strategic move to validate their presence in the Kursk region. However, the response from these organizations and the impact on the ground situation remains to be seen. What are your thoughts on this development? Please share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing which is everyday at 6pm.
