The movement of Russian forces to strengthen their positions in Donetsk and Kursk regions may open the door to an increase in Ukraine's covert operations in Crimea. This was reported by the British edition of The Telegraph, according to UNN .
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According to the newspaper, Ukraine's destruction of the Black Sea Fleet and the accelerated dismantling of the Russian air defense network in Crimea have led to the Russian troops on the peninsula going on the defensive. Guerrilla attacks have become more frequent, and Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Crimea will be the next target, and the Kerch Bridge, which is already often the target of Ukrainian sabotage, is likely to be destroyed in the near future.
"While a conventional offensive to retake Crimea seems ambitious, the movement of Russian forces to reinforce Donbas and Kursk could open the door to more covert operations by Ukraine on the peninsula," The Telegraph writes.
According to the newspaper, there are currently no signs of a retreat by Russian troops in Donbas despite the Ukrainian army's operation in the Kursk region. If this is true, it indicates Moscow's determination to prioritize the offensive in the region, even though Ukrainian troops continue to hold their advantage in the Kursk region, the newspaper writes.
However, several factors could still undermine Moscow's resolve.
First, if Ukraine continues to succeed in the Kursk region, Russia may have to withdraw more forces from the occupied territories, potentially weakening its defensive positions, and it could also extend the range of Ukrainian drones, further undermining Russia's long-range attack capabilities.
Second, Ukrainian brigades currently undergoing training could be deployed to reinforce Kursk or Donetsk, depending on where Russian forces show signs of weakness. Such flexibility could allow Kyiv to organize a counteroffensive in 2025, rather than just another push into the occupied Donbas, the newspaper writes.