Ukraine’s extraordinary incursion into Kursk has changed the narrative of the war – but is a high-risk strategy

Ukrainian servicemen repair a tank that was damaged during the offensive into Russia. Photograph: Nikoletta Stoyanova/EPA

The immediate impact of Ukraine’s incursion into the Russian region of Kursk that began on 6 August has been a transformation in the morale of the Ukrainian public and even more so the narrative among Ukraine’s international partners.

The slow but inexorable loss of ground in Donbas that painted a grim picture of retreat has been replaced by images of a dynamic front. While deceptive, this new narrative is important in reminding Ukraine’s international partners that outcomes in war are not inevitable.