Ukraine strikes back: Syrski reveals bold Kursk offensive

General Oleksandr Syrski, the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an interview with "Le Monde," stated that the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region was necessary. "I had no choice; I had to carry out this operation," he said, highlighting the threat from Russian forces that could have penetrated the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

Syrski explained that the goal of the offensive was to interrupt the Russian offensive on Kharkiv, reduce pressure on all fronts, and prevent the opening of a new front in Sumy. "That is why I decided to carry out the offensive where the enemy had a weak point, with very few soldiers to guard the border," added the general.

In August 2024, Ukrainian troops entered the Kursk region, occupying the first Russian territories in a war ongoing for nearly three years. The Ukrainian army controlled an area measuring 7 by 25 miles, encompassing 28 Russian localities. However, as "The Economist" reports, Ukraine has already lost half of the occupied territory.

Currently, all units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region are on the defensive. The retreat began in late September, when elite units were replaced by less experienced ones. In November, Vladimir Putin set the goal for the Russian army to expel Ukrainians from the Kursk region by January 20, when President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office in the USA.

Source: "Le Monde" / suspilne.media / Interia