Battle of Kursk II: The Fog of War

 "For war is a matter not so much of arms as of money, which makes war especially dangerous for a city with an empire. The ones who go to war often find themselves drawn into the opposite of what they had intended. The beginning of a war is very much like the beginning of a fever; it is easy to diagnose, but hard to predict the course it will take." – Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War.

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched a full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine with what they believed would be a swift and victorious march. The soldiers carried themselves with a sense of ceremonial invincibility, much like their leader, Vladimir Putin. As he declared war on Ukraine, Putin’s threats extended far beyond its borders. He fancied himself the master of the world, issuing warnings to any nation daring to interfere. "This is my prey," growled the Kremlin lion.

For months, the war was broadcast in near real-time, an unsettling spectacle that Russians and their leader consumed with a perverse satisfaction. The destruction of Ukraine, its people, and its infrastructure became a grim reality show. But Putin, in his arrogance, made a catastrophic miscalculation: Ukraine was the one country in Europe he should never have attacked. The resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people astounded the world, giving rise to a nation of modern-day heroes, similar to the heroes of antiquity, forged in the fires of war.

Yet, this war's transparency and the flood of information often proved detrimental to Ukraine’s military efforts. Plans for Ukrainian offensives were sometimes openly discussed in the media before they even began, inadvertently aiding Russian intelligence.

But on August 6, 2024, everything changed. The Ukrainian Armed Forces crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border and began an invasion of Russian territory. The operation’s beginning, its objectives, the composition of the forces, and the types of equipment used were all shrouded in the fog of war. The unprecedented surprise caught not only Putin and his generals off guard but also Ukraine's allies.

Now, the fog of war has descended upon Russia's Kursk region. Information is sparse, and what little exists is outdated, often by 2-3 days. The maps are vague, and the truth is obscured. But one thing pierces through this fog: hysteria and panic among the Russians. Putin has shattered the social contract with his people. They were willing to kill Ukrainians for money, eager to erase the Ukrainian state from existence. But war on their own soil? This they did not sign up for.

As the fog envelops the Kursk region, Putin peers into the murk, his once-commanding gaze now clouded with uncertainty. What does he see? Perhaps the specters of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, looming reminders of the fate that could await him.

Glory to Ukraine!