Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is now entering its third month, with scores of settlements still firmly under its control. The operation marked the first time foreign troops entered Russian territory since World War II – embarrassing the Kremlin and proving to Kyiv’s backers and the rest of the world that Ukraine’s military was not perpetually on the back foot. Some nine weeks later, Ukraine’s advance has stalled, and neither side has made major gains or counterattacks in recent days. The endgame is unclear. Analysts believe Kyiv is trying to use its initial momentum for a morale boost and a potential bargaining chip, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to downplay the entire incursion and limit the resources Russia’s war machine devotes to countering it. What’s the latest on the ground? Ukraine has maintained a foothold in Kursk of about 786 square kilometers (300 square miles), according to…
