Ukraine’s week-old incursion into Russia has embarrassed Putin. How will it affect the war?

The swift Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region that began last week has been the largest cross-border raid by Kyiv’s forces in the nearly 2 ½-year war, and has exposed Russia’s vulnerabilities and dealt a painful blow to the Kremlin.

The Russian military has thus far struggled to deal with the surprise attack, which has led tens of thousands of civilians to flee the region.

For Ukraine, the raid has provided a much-needed boost to morale at a time when its undermanned and under-gunned forces are facing relentless Russian attacks along the more than 1,000 kilometer (620-mile) front line.

Here's a look at the Ukrainian raid and its implications:

Kyiv’s troops poured into the Kursk region from several directions last Tuesday, quickly overwhelming a few checkpoints and field fortifications manned by lightly armed border guards and infantry units along the region’s 245-kilometer (152-mile) frontier with Ukraine.

Unlike previous raids conducted by small groups of anti-Kremlin Russian volunteers fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, the incursion into the Kursk region reportedly involved units from several battle-hardened Ukrainian army brigades.

Russian military bloggers reported that Ukrainian mobile groups comprised of several armored vehicles each quickly drove dozens of kilometers into Russian territory, bypassing Russian fortifications and sowing panic throughout the region.

Matthew Savill, military sciences director at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said Monday that Ukrainian forces had pushed up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) in some directions. He also said the total area covered by the incursion appears to be around 400 square kilometers (154 square miles), although it is unclear how much of that territory they actually control.

Savill said there’s evidence that up to 10,000 Ukrainian troops from at least four brigades — and possibly more — being involved, and that they're using Western-provided equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles.

The Ukrainian forces have widely used drones to strike Russian military vehicles and deployed electronic warfare assets to jam Russian drones and suppress military communications.

While small Ukrainian mobile groups roam the region without trying to consolidate control, other troops reportedly have started digging defensive fortifications in certain areas, including the western part of Sudzha, a town about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border.

Caught off guard, Russian troops failed to mount a quick response. With the bulk of their army engaged in the offensive in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, few troops were left to protect the Kursk border area. The Russian units that were there consisted mostly of poorly trained conscripts who were easily overcome by seasoned Ukrainian units, according to Russian military bloggers. Some conscripts were captured.

The manpower shortage led Russia's military command to initially rely on warplanes and helicopter gunships to try to counter the attack. Advancing Ukrainian forces managed to down at least one Russian helicopter damaged another, according to Russian military bloggers.

Russian reinforcements, including elite special forces units and hardened Wagner mercenaries, have started to arrive in the Kursk region, but so far they appear to have failed to dislodge the Ukrainian troops from Sudzha and other areas.

Some of the newly arriving troops appear to have lacked combat skills and suffered casualties. In one example, a convoy of military trucks carelessly stopped on the roadside near a combat area and was pummeled by Ukrainian fire.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that Ukraine lost 945 soldiers in four days of fighting, though it didn't say how many Russians had died and its claims couldn't be independently verified.

Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time that Kyiv's forces are operating in the Kursk region and said the incursion was “purely a security issue for Ukraine.”

In a video posted Monday to his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian military was hitting back at Russian forces that had launched strikes at Ukraine from the Kursk region.

It is “absolutely fair” to attack Russian positions, including airfields and logistics used to strike Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, adding the goal of the mission was “liberation of the border from the Russian military.”

In the video, Ukraine’s top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, also told the president that Kyiv's forces control 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of the Kursk region. The claim could not be independently verified.

Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak suggested last week that such an operation would improve Kyiv’s hand in any future negotiations with Moscow.

“When will it be possible to conduct a negotiation process in a way that we can push them or get something from them? Only when the war is not going on according to their scenarios,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the incursion as a “large-scale provocation” that involved “indiscriminate shelling of civilian buildings, residential houses and ambulances.”

Putin suggested that the Ukrainian attack is an attempt by Kyiv to stop Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas region and gain leverage in possible future peace talks. Speaking to his top officials Monday, he vowed that Moscow would fulfill all of its military goals.

“It’s obvious that the enemy will keep trying to destabilize the situation in the border zone to try to destabilize the domestic political situation in our country,” Putin said. Russia’s main task is “to squeeze out, drive the enemy out of our territories and, together with the border service, to ensure reliable cover of the state border."

The Kursk region's acting governor, Alexei Smirnov, said Monday that Ukrainian forces had taken control of 28 settlements. He said 12 civilians had been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, had been wounded since the start of the incursion. About 121,000 people have left or been evacuated from combat areas, he said.

Russia announced a federal emergency in the Kursk region and declared a counterterrorism operation there and in the neighboring Belgorod and Bryansk regions, giving local authorities more powers to quickly coordinate an emergency response and tighten security.

Russian state propaganda has focused on the Kremlin’s efforts to provide assistance to displaced residents while playing down the military’s unpreparedness for the attack.

By launching the incursion, Kyiv could be aiming to force the Kremlin to divert resources from Ukraine's Donetsk region, where Russian forces have pressed offensives in several sectors and made slow but steady gains. If Ukraine manages to hold on to some of its Kursk gains, that would strengthen Kyiv's hand in future peace talks and could allow it to trade them for Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

The incursion has also dealt a blow to the Kremlin, highlighting its failure to protect the country and shattering Putin’s narrative that Russia has remained largely unscathed by the hostilities.

The incursion also has sent a strong signal to Kyiv's allies that the Ukrainian military could seize the initiative in the war — a message particularly important ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

But despite the initial successes, the foray into Russia might cause attrition in some of Ukraine’s most capable units and leave troops in Donetsk without vital reinforcements.

Trying to establish a lasting presence in the Kursk region could be challenging for the Ukrainian forces, whose supply lines would be vulnerable to Russian fire.

“Sustaining a force of any size in Russia and defending against counterattacks will be hard, given the limited reserves available to Ukraine,” said Savill, of RUSI.

A woman evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region chooses clothes at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

People evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region sit next to tents at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

People evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region sit next to tents at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

This photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry press service on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, shows Russian military vehicle boarding a lowboy for transfer to Kursk region. (Russian Defense Press Service via AP)

People evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region sit next to tents at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this image made from video provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry press service, people board a bus during evacuation from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Belovsky district, Kursk region, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Ministry of Emergency Situations press service via AP)

In this image made from video provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry press service, people board a bus during evacuation from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Belovsky district, Kursk region, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Ministry of Emergency Situations press service via AP)

Russian National Guard Chief Viktor Zolotov, left, and Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov, right, attend the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin dedicated to the situation in Kursk and Belgorod border regions, at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, leads the meeting with top security and defence officials dedicated to the situation in Kursk and Belgorod border regions, at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, a column of the Russian Armed Forces move to build up forces conducting active combat operations with Ukrainian formations in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian Emergency paramedics roll a stretcher with a resident of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side into an ambulance in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

Residents of the apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side leave an area in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, a Russian Army tank covered with camouflage net takes a position at an area of Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

An elderly woman walks past an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, Russian Army tanks take a position at an area of Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

A view of the column of Russian Army trucks damaged by shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the highway in the Sudzhansky district, Kursk region of Russia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (Anatoliy Zhdanov/Kommersant Publishing House via AP)

People walk near an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side, in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

Residents of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side stand near the building in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, a column of the Russian Armed Forces move to build up forces conducting active combat operations with Ukrainian formations in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

A Russian Red Cross worker, second left, listens to people evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

Volunteers unload humanitarian aid to people evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, at a temporary residence center in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, Ka-52 helicopters gunships of the Russian air force take off to air strike on concentrations of manpower, armored vehicles and automobile military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the border area of the Kursk region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this photo released by Government of Kursk region of Russia via their telegram channel on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, relatives and their children from the Kursk region gather helping them to leave on holiday to the Moscow region of Russia. (Government of Kursk region of Russia telegram channel via AP)

In this photo released by Government of Kursk region of Russia via their telegram channel on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, relatives gather with their children from the Kursk region helping them to leave on holiday to the Moscow region of Russia. (Government of Kursk region of Russia telegram channel via AP)

In this photo released by Government of Kursk region of Russia via their telegram channel on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, relatives carry suitcases of their children from the Kursk region helping them to leave on holiday to the Moscow region of Russia. (Government of Kursk region of Russia telegram channel via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, chairs a meeting with Federal Security Service Chief Alexander Bortnikov, left, and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, second left, on the situation in Kursk region, where Ukrainian armed forces attempted an offensive to seize territory at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, A glide bomb is dropped by a Russian warplane to strike Ukrainian positions in Ukraine's Sumy region that borders Russia's Kursk region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, s Su-34 bomber of the Russian air force drops a glide bomb on Ukrainian positions in Ukraine's Sumy region that borders Russia's Kursk region. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, chairs a meeting with Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, right, Federal Security Service Chief Alexander Bortnikov, left, and Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, second left, on the situation in Kursk region, where Ukrainian armed forces attempted an offensive to seize territory at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

This photo released by the acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov telegram channel on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, shows a damaged house after shelling by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha, Kursk region that borders Ukraine. Russian officials said Wednesday they were fighting off Ukrainian cross-border raids in a southwestern border province for a second day, as Kyiv officials remained quiet about the scope of the operation. (Governor of Kursk region telegram channel via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov during a meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, a Russian Su-25 fighter jet fires rockets on Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and military equipment at the border area of Kursk region of Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The last time Khadija Ahidid saw her son, he came to breakfast in 2021 looking “homeless” with big hair so she offered to give him $20 so he could go get a shave or a haircut that day. Hours later, he shot and killed 10 people at a supermarket in the college town of Boulder.

She saw Ahmad Alissa for the first time since then during his murder trial on Monday, saying repeatedly that her son, who was diagnosed after the shooting with schizophrenia, was sick. When one of Alissa’s lawyers, Kathryn Herold, was introducing her to the jury, Herold asked how she knew Alissa. Ahidid responded “How can I know him? He is sick,” she said through an Arabic interpreter in her first public comments about her son and the shooting.

Alissa, who emigrated from Syria with his family as a child, began acting strangely in 2019, believing he was being followed by the FBI, talking to himself and isolating from the rest of the family, Ahidid said. His condition declined after he got Covid several months before the shooting, she said, adding he also became “fat” and stopped showering as much.

There was no record of Alissa being treated for mental illness before the shooting. After the shooting, his family later reported that he had been acting in strange ways, like breaking a car key fob and putting tape over a laptop camera because he thought the devices were being used to track him. Some relatives thought he could be possessed by an evil spirit, or djinn, according to the defense.

No one, including Alissa’s lawyers, disputes he was the shooter. Alissa has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting. The defense says he should be found not guilty because he was legally insane and not able to tell the difference between right and wrong at the time of the shooting.

Prosecutors and forensic psychologists who evaluated him for the court say that, while mentally ill, Alissa knew what he was doing when he launched the attack. They point to the planning and research he did to prepare for it and his fear that he could end up in jail afterward to show that Alissa knew what he was doing was wrong.

Alissa mostly looked down as his mother testified and photographs of him as a happy toddler and a teenager at the beach were shown on screen. There was no obvious exchange between mother and son in court but Alissa dabbed his eyes with a tissue after she left.

The psychiatrist in charge of Alissa's treatment at the state mental hospital testified earlier in the day that Alissa refused to accept visitors during his over two year stay there.

When questioned by District Attorney Michael Dougherty, Ahidid said her son did not tell her what he was planning to do the day of the shooting.

She said she thought a large package containing a rifle that Alissa came home with shortly before the shooting may have been a piano.

“I swear to God we didn’t know what was inside that package,” she said.

Dougherty pointed out that she had told investigators soon after the shooting that she thought it could be a violin.

After being reminded of a previous statement to police, Ahidid acknowledged that she had heard a banging sound in the house and one of her other sons said that Alissa had a gun that had jammed. Alissa said he would return it, she testified.

She indicated that no one in the extended family that lived together in the home followed up to make sure, saying “everyone has their own job.”

“No one is free for anyone,” she said.

FILE - Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, accused of killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket in March 2021, is led into a courtroom for a hearing, Sept. 7, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, Pool, File)