“We’ve Been Deterring Ourselves for Too Long” Said Former US CG on Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion

In an interview with the German media outlet Deutsche Welle, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe Ben Hodges said that Ukraine’s incursion of the Kursk region showed that red lines apparently no longer exist.

“We have been deterring ourselves for too long,” Hodges said.

When asked whether there are no red lines anymore, he said “I certainly hope not”.

“Ukrainians are teaching us that drones do not help you see through all of the fog of war. And, of course, there are reports that Gerasimov [Chief of the General Staff of Russia] and the Russian General Staff ignored, intelligence indicators, that Ukraine was about to attack,” Hodges added. “Ukraine has no interest in conquering Russian territory but this will help force the Russians to recalculate what they are doing.” 

Recently on August 12 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially stated that Ukraine is conducting an operation in the Kursk region of Russia. According to the latest data, Ukraine was controlling 74 settlements, about 1,000 km² of the territory of the Russian Federation. Zelenskyy has also stated that hundreds of Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian forces.