The beginning of a Russian counteroffensive against Ukrainian troops who seized a swath of Russia’s Kursk region last month has turned the spotlight back on Kyiv and the objectives of its audacious invasion.

The operation — which was the first major foreign incursion into Russian territory since the second world war — was always a gamble, said analysts. But with Ukraine’s forces in Kursk now on the back foot, the risks are growing, and the strategic rewards are still elusive.

Ukrainian forces achieved a morale-boosting tactical victory when they seized roughly 1,200 sq km of Russian territory after their surprise attack on August 6. The operation helped to restore some faith in Ukraine’s offensive potential, changing the narrative of the war.