As Ukrainian forces continue to push forward into Russian territory over a week since the start of its operations in Kursk, a bizarre marking has emerged as a symbol of Vladimir Putin’s humiliation.
The mark, either painted on or stuck with tape, has been spotted on trucks, tanks and NATO equipment that Kyiv’s defence forces have been using.
The recurrence of the white triangle has even prompted some experts to dub the first invasion of Russia since Nazi Germany’s Operation Barbarossa as “Operation Triangle.”
Troops entering the border town of Guevo, three kilometres past the Russian frontier, could be seen driving in on a truck bearing the mark.
A tank and other armoured vehicles nearing the town of Cherkasskoe Porechnoe also carried the white triangle.
The marking is not a new feature – Ukraine’s Operational Command West group forces stationed near the Belarus border could already be seen using it in June.
Ukrainian sources have claimed the white triangle was adopted for pragmatic reasons, an easy way for Kyiv’s forces to identify equipment and avoid friendly fire behind enemy lines.
Identifiers like the triangle can make a considerable difference on the battlefield when uniforms and equipment are very similar like in the case of Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow also adopted a similar marker when it launched its invasion in February 2022 – with the daunting white Z mark slowly becoming a symbol of support for Putin.
The white triangle has become more prominent over the past week as Ukrainian forces continue to push into Russian territory – much to the humiliation of the Kremlin.
Ukraine’s top military commander says his forces now control 386 square miles of Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region.
Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi made the statement in a video posted on Monday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Telegram channel. In the video, he briefed the president on the front-line situation.
Gen Syrskyi said: “The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control.”
Putin said the incursion, which has caused more than 100,000 civilians to flee, is an attempt by Kyiv to stop Moscow’s offensive in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and gain leverage in possible future peace talks.
Speaking on Monday at a meeting with top security and defence officials, Putin said the attack that began on August 6 appeared to reflect Kyiv’s attempt to achieve a better negotiating position in possible future talks to end the war. He insisted Moscow’s army would prevail.
Putin said Ukraine may have hoped the attack would cause public unrest in Russia, but that it has failed to do so, and he claimed the number of volunteers to join the Russian military has increased because of the assault.
He said Russian forces will carry on with their offensive in eastern Ukraine regardless.
