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Welp, today’s Ukrainian propaganda is stupider than yesterday’s.

Russia redeployed troops to Kursk in the days before the Ukrainians crossed the border because it had been warned of the Ukrainian operation. The Ukrainians then walked eagerly into the trap. Russia didn’t close the border, another 3000 men joined the initial 12,000 of Ukraine’s best troops in this trap. Ukraine will have lost around 3000 by now. With fewer men and hardware, the pace of Ukrainian losses will accelerate. The international community is disgusted; Germany won’t be sending any more money down this black hole the Ukraine has dug in Kursk.

The Ukrainians have lost so many that they are pulling soldiers from the Donbas to reinforce them. In Donbas, their soldiers are complaining that since the Kursk operation, they are receiving fewer shells and armored vehicles. The Russians are taking advantage of the Ukraine’s decision to move some of its troops from Donbas to Kursk - the Russians are advancing more rapidly in the Donbas.

The only reason Zelensky keeps his troops in Kursk, now that they are low on vehicles, fuel, and losing men, is either his narcissism (prestige seeking propaganda) and/or the rumors that the Ukrainians have a dirty bomb, or are awaiting delivery of a dirty bomb. They are still trying to reach or damage the nuclear power plant, but they don’t have the mobility anymore.

Zelensky say’s he’s advancing in several directions in Kursk; he is lying. He’s been sending reconnaissance teams which are being ambushed by Chechen forces Russia deployed to this forested region because they excel at such ambushes.

In the pic you provide - Putin is using one hand to rub the wrist of the other, and may be wincing (arthritis, carpal tunnel? wut?). Whatever it his, this doesn’t look like worry. If/When something makes Putin worry, he’s not the kind to wring his hands for the cameras (He is former KGB head).

Putin has declared Ukrainians in Kursk as ‘terrorists’ because the incursion team brought teams of foreign mercenaries who have been shooting at citizens, fire trucks, ambulances etc. Putin says he won’t negotiate with terrorists - and that terrorists do not receive the protections of the Geneva convention.

It’s stunning that Zelensky made such a massive stupid error (kurks) but I do think he wants to double down. This does seem like his Battle of The Bulge.

ransomnote: "Welp, today’s Ukrainian propaganda is stupider than yesterday’s."

Facts are neither stupid nor intelligent, they are just facts, and can be very stubborn, even for those dedicated to ignoring or distorting them.

ransomnote: "Russia redeployed troops to Kursk in the days before the Ukrainians crossed the border because it had been warned of the Ukrainian operation."

There's no evidence presented to show that Russians were even expecting Ukraine's counter-offensive, much less were prepared to meet & defeat it.

ransomnote: "The Ukrainians then walked eagerly into the trap.
Russia didn’t close the border, another 3000 men joined the initial 12,000 of Ukraine’s best troops in this trap."

The original estimates after August 6 were that around 2,000 Ukrainian troops invaded Kursk.
This number soon increased to 10,000, then 30,000 and I even saw an estimate of 75,000 Ukrainian troops at one point.
But none of those numbers were confirmed and must all be considered as mere speculations.

Ukrainian advances into Kursk were reported as quite rapid at first, soon crossing two Russian defensive lines and capturing the strategic town of Sudzha.
Today Ukrainians are said to control around 1,200 square kilometers (~460 square miles) and are advancing into another 600 square kilometers (~230 square miles) south of the river Seym (or Seim).

Independent and Pro-Russian sites dispute some of the details, but not the overall picture.

ransomnote: "Ukraine will have lost around 3000 by now.
With fewer men and hardware, the pace of Ukrainian losses will accelerate. "

There are no public numbers purporting to show Ukrainian losses of either men or equipment in Kursk, though there are Russian videos claiming to show significant attacks on Ukrainian columns.

ransomnote: "The international community is disgusted; Germany won’t be sending any more money down this black hole the Ukraine has dug in Kursk."

Naw... Germans are perfectly happy with Ukraine's actions, and have been Ukraine's biggest supporters, after the US.
That has led to significant German budget problems which forced them the shift aid onto frozen Russian assets:

"Ukraine has prepared its military operation in the Kursk region very secretly and without feedback, which is certainly due to the situation," Scholz said. "This is a very limited operation in terms of space and probably also in terms of time."
Separately Scholz said Germany would continue to be what he said was Ukraine's biggest supporter in Europe after controversy in recent days over what some have called wavering German support for Kyiv over domestic politicking.
Scholz's awkward three-way coalition, which has struggled to reach a deal on its budget, plans to halve its aid next year, betting the shortfall will be made up by a G7 plan to loan Ukraine $50 billion.
Scholz said the G7 plan to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to give the loans was "technically demanding, but politically clarified" and would give Ukraine a considerable increase in support."

IOW, Germans intend to increase their support for Ukraine, not reduce it.

ransomnote: "The Ukrainians have lost so many that they are pulling soldiers from the Donbas to reinforce them.
In Donbas, their soldiers are complaining that since the Kursk operation, they are receiving fewer shells and armored vehicles."

It does appear that the Donbas for Ukraine may be returning to the desperate days before the April 2024 US House approval of $61 billion in new aid for Ukraine.
Some reports suggest Russians may be gaining as much as two or three square miles per day now.

Since August 6, Ukraine has taken around 460 square miles in Kursk and is now moving into another 230 square miles south of the Seym River.

ransomnote: "The only reason Zelensky keeps his troops in Kursk, now that they are low on vehicles, fuel, and losing men, is either his narcissism (prestige seeking propaganda) and/or the rumors that the Ukrainians have a dirty bomb, or are awaiting delivery of a dirty bomb.
They are still trying to reach or damage the nuclear power plant, but they don’t have the mobility anymore."

All of that is 100% pure nonsense reflecting nothing more than Russian vodka induced fever-dreams projected out into the real world.
In fact, there's nothing nuclear about Ukraine's operations or goals in Kursk.
How far Ukraine can go into Kursk and how long they may decide to stay there is anybody's guess right now.

ransomnote: "Zelensky say’s he’s advancing in several directions in Kursk; he is lying.
He’s been sending reconnaissance teams which are being ambushed by Chechen forces Russia deployed to this forested region because they excel at such ambushes."

All of the Kursk invasion maps -- including pro-Russian maps -- show Ukrainian forces advancing along several axes, including east through Sudzha, northeast towards Kursk City, North towards L'gov, northwest towards Koreveno and west towards Glushkovo.
These are reported as advancing further, or less, depending on the day and which side reports it.

ransomnote: "Putin has declared Ukrainians in Kursk as ‘terrorists’ because the incursion team brought teams of foreign mercenaries who have been shooting at citizens, fire trucks, ambulances etc. "

All of that is also pure lies & nonsense, Russian propaganda supported by zero evidence from reports on the ground.
Actual reports from Kursk show a very different story, one of friendly receptions to and aid from Ukraine military for Kursk civilians.

So, who are we to believe -- Solovyov and Skabeyeva, or our own lying eyes?

ransomnote: "It’s stunning that Zelensky made such a massive stupid error (kurks) but I do think he wants to double down.
This does seem like his Battle of The Bulge."

Yes, Battle of the Bulge is a seemingly obvious analogy, but perhaps a better one is the opening of a Second Front in Europe on June 6, 1944, to take some of the pressure off Germany's Eastern Front and give the Old Soviets a better chance for success.
Or, perhaps its just a diversion, to take attention away from important events happening elsewhere... ?

June 6, 1944, opening of the "Second Front" in Europe to take pressure off the Soviets on Germany's Eastern Front.