Kursk showdown: Russian troops destroy cities to reclaim land
The Russian armed forces are aggressively attacking cities in Kursk. For the first time since World War II, Russia has lost territories, leading to an assault on cities within the Kursk region. This effort aims to reclaim lost territories and destroy infrastructure that Ukrainians could use.
Russian troops had to contend with losing their territory for the first time since World War II. In response, Moscow decided to destroy cities in the Kursk region. According to UNITED24 Media, on March 16, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the withdrawal from Sudzha, a city that is a key logistical point in the Kursk offensive.
Destruction of cities as the invader's strategy
In an attempt to halt the Ukrainian offensive, Russian forces employed a tactic involving the destruction of their cities. Sudzha was the largest city under Ukrainian control, so Moscow decided to demolish buildings to hinder its opponent's progress.
At its peak, Ukrainian forces controlled approximately 540 square miles of Russian territory in the Kursk region, including 100 settlements. About 2,000 civilians remained in Sudzha, receiving humanitarian aid from the Ukrainian armed forces—the Russian actions aimed to destroy any infrastructure that the opponent could utilize.
Russians modernize powerful bombs
The Russians are modernizing, among other weapons, FAB-3000 bombs to attack their opponents and recapture seized territory effectively. These bombs are being converted into glide bombs, allowing for precise attacks on Ukrainian positions and cities located far from the front lines. Such modernization complicates efforts to defend against these attacks. These actions demonstrate how Russia is adapting its military strategies in response to the situation on the front.
According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War dated February 6, 2025, the Ukrainian operation in Kursk had far-reaching consequences. The Ukrainian forces' actions forced the relocation of elite Russian units, complicating Russian operations and slowing down new attacks by the opponent.
The operation in Kursk showed that even a tiny Ukrainian presence on the enemy territory could force costly changes in military planning. However, if Ukraine loses access to Western support, Russia may regain the initiative due to its advantage in firepower.
