Russian political analyst Sergei Markov, a confidant of dictator Vladimir Putin, said that such a rapid offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region was a real humiliation for the Russian president. Markov said this in a commentary to The Times, UNN reports .
The Times notes that Markov is a political expert at Moscow State University who previously advised the Kremlin on Ukraine.
In the interview, he indicated that the unprecedented invasion of Ukraine has dealt a blow to Putin's reputation. "This is a humiliation for Vladimir Putin, and people are certainly not happy," he said
"Tens of thousands of refugees from these regions... it is clear that the Russian army cannot cope with the situation," Markov added.
The Times writes that Ukrainian troops, numbering up to 10,000, have already advanced 20 miles into Russian territory. The latest developments could lead to the resignation of Russia's top military leadership, the newspaper notes.