President Putin has vowed to “force the enemy from Russian territory” in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have been seizing territory for nine days. This comes 24 years after the sinking of the Kursk submarine in the Barents Sea, a major challenge in Putin’s first year as president. Despite facing criticism in the past for his handling of disasters, Putin now faces a different Russia in 2024, with tight control over the media and messaging.
The ongoing conflict with Ukraine has raised questions about Putin’s authority and the image he has cultivated as “Mr. Security”. The longer the conflict continues, the greater the pressure on the Russian leadership and potentially the greater the damage to Putin’s authority. Despite his efforts to downplay the situation and avoid using the word “invasion”, Putin remains determined to “force the enemy from Russian territory”.
As the conflict enters its second week, Putin has shown no sign of regret for launching the invasion of Ukraine. He still believes in Russia’s victory as the only possible outcome of the war. The Russian military has deployed reinforcements to the Kursk region, but has yet to regain control. The situation remains tense as the world watches to see what Putin’s next move will be in this ongoing conflict.
