Part 5/7:
Strategic Aims and Military Goals
In the short term, Ukraine's objective is to advance along the highway towards a critical Russian logistical hub. Should they succeed in threatening this hub, it could set off a domino effect, impacting Russian supply lines across the region. In terms of long-term strategy, Ukraine aims to close the distance towards Kursk city itself, which is still 55 kilometers away, complicating Russian logistics critically if they manage to cut the gap to around 40 kilometers.
However, achieving such territorial gains will require intensive and sustained effort as Ukrainian forces face the formidable challenge of holding newly captured territory amidst the harsh winter conditions.