Russia’s defence ministry may believe its forces are “defeating” Ukraine’s counter-offensive in the Kursk region, but Vladimir Putin clearly doesn’t.

He has sent one of his toughest generals to organise the fight back against Ukraine’s surprise Sunday morning counter-offensive.

General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, promoted in December 2024 by Putin and trusted to run Russia’s border defences and Africa mercenary projects, arrived in Kursk less than a couple of hours after Ukrainian tanks started rumbling towards Russian positions.

By sending Gen Yevkurov to Kursk, Putin has shown his hand.

Although it is still unclear how successful the Ukrainian counter-offensive will be, he is clearly worried.

Repelling Ukraine’s August 2024 advance into Russia’s southern Kursk region has become a priority project for Putin before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president on Jan 20 2025 and imposes a peace deal. Turning up to negotiations with Ukraine still holding on to Russian territory, even small parcels, will weaken Putin.