Whether Ukraine's offensive in the undisputed Russian territory of Kursk oblast, diverting a part of its forces, way smaller than that of the invader, makes any conventional military sense or not, it has very successfully called out Putin's repeated nuclear bluffs periodically echoed and amplified by his minions -- especially the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, a former President to boot.
Now, it stands more than amply clear that the purpose of these threats was to make the US, and also its West European allies, desist from providing effective help to Zelensky to rid his country of invading occupiers.
That's a big strategic gain, on the part of Ukraine, scored by this ongoing operation, no matter what happens eventually on the grounds of Kursk.
<<The successful Ukrainian offensive in the Russian Kursk oblast started in early August has once again triggered speculation about possible Russian nuclear use against Ukraine. The situation resembles the successful Ukrainian offensive in the late summer-fall of 2022 in the Kharkiv oblast, when many worried Russia would resort to battlefield nuclear use to stop advancing Ukrainian forces. On the face of it, there was reason to be concerned: Russian President Vladimir Putin did reference nuclear weapons in September 2022, and it became known more than a year later that the United States was “rigorously” preparing for that contingency.>>
But, so very uncharacteristically, no nuclear threat by any recognised figure!