Video: The Ukrainian Invasion of Russia

In August, the Ukrainian military surprised the world by invading Russia. In less than a week, the Ukrainian forces captured more than 1,000 square kilometers of territory. Unlike in Ukraine’s previous and usually short-lived raids across the border, this time, Ukrainian forces are settling in for a fight: They are fortifying defensive positions throughout the occupied Kursk region in what Ukrainian officials are calling a “buffer zone” to protect against continued airstrikes launched into Ukraine from the area.

So, how did the Ukrainians pull this off, and what is next?

The Ukrainian military has shown an affinity for secrecy, using deception to pull off major victories in the war. Now, Kyiv used deception to mount a foray into Russia that could change the course of the war.

“Behind the rifles of thousands of battle-hardened troops, Ukraine has taken hundreds of Russian soldiers prisoner and captured dozens of towns and villages,” Alex Hollings, Editor-in-Chief of Sandboxx News and host of AirPower on YouTube, said in a recent episode.

The Ukrainian forces are advancing inside Russian territory, forcing the Kremlin to relocate forces from elsewhere and lessen its offensive pressure inside Ukraine.

“But the biggest blow of this ongoing offensive may be to the reputation and standing of Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Hollings added.

If you are looking to learn more about how the Ukrainian military surprised Russia and the world with its offensive operation into Russia, make sure to watch our video above.