“But what did it achieve at the operational and strategic levels? “
You should read up on asymmetric warfare. It’s tactics 101 for that.
The goal is to run operations at low cost to you that will force your opponent into high cost defensive postures. At the cost of a few trucks and drones Russia will need to divert resources from the front to protect scattered air bases across Russia.
Yes, I know about asymmetric warfare. And have known from the beginning of this war that Ukraine, being weaker, would have to rely on it.
The incursion into Kursk was supposed to divert Russian troops from the front lines. Only it didn’t. Oops.
Now the Russians may well erect nets around their airfields similar to the ones they are using to protect their logistics routes. Some nets. Big diversion. Big whoop.