Ukraine and Russia trade blows: Who is on the back foot?

The Debate

What happens when summer turns to fall?

After the slow and steady Russian gains in the Donbas, the surprise Ukranian counter-invasion in Kursk.
Now come harrowing nights of bombings. What to expect when fall turns to winter?

Consecutive nights of bombings across Ukraine. This time hitting the hometown of Volodymyr Zelensky Krivvy Riv in the center of the country.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is sending thousands of troops into Kursk region in what is quickly become the biggest invasion of Russian territory since the Second World War. It started as what seemed like an incursion on the 6th of August.

After Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzha nuclear power plant in the opening days of the full scale invasion back in 2022, another atomic facility now in the news. The head of the UN nuclear watchdog this Tuesday is visiting Kurchatov, home to the Kursk nuclear power plant. The frontline's now 40 kilometres away.

Who has the upper hand now? Everything can seem frozen until it is not. What will tip the balance in the days, weeks and months ahead?

Produced by François Picard, Andrew Hilliar, Juilette Brown, Meiqi AN