Ukraine's strategic withdrawal in Kursk: Prioritizing soldier safety
The Ukrainian army continues to operate in the Kursk region in Russia, and the military command is prioritizing the protection of soldiers' lives, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. This statement followed reports that Ukraine's armed forces had withdrawn from the Russian town of Sudzha.
- The situation is bad. Russian forces are trying to cut our logistics to force our command to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region - Zelensky told journalists.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine must prepare for Russia to increase its pressure on them in the coming days.
Zelensky emphasized that the issue goes beyond escalating tensions on the Kursk front. He suggested that intimidation tactics will be employed, potentially including nuclear threats. He stressed that this approach is a well-established strategy used by Russia ahead of any diplomatic efforts. According to the Ukrainian President, it is crucial to assess the situation rationally and address actual threats rather than merely reacting to propaganda.
Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday, citing DeepState project maps that depict the positions of Ukrainian and Russian forces, that Ukrainian units had withdrawn from the Russian town of Sudzha. However, they were still present in villages west of this locality in the Kursk region.
Ukrainians entered the Kursk region on August 6, 2024
The "Moscow Times" reported that the decision to withdraw is part of a larger operation aimed at avoiding the defeat of Ukrainian forces in the region. Analyst Jan Matveyev emphasizes that this operation allowed Ukraine to preserve its main forces and avoid catastrophe on this front.
Ukrainian forces unexpectedly entered the Kursk region on August 6, 2024, surprising Moscow. At that time, it was explained that one of the goals of this offensive was to force the Russians to transfer part of their forces from the occupied Donbas in eastern Ukraine to this region. Kyiv currently controls approximately 193 square miles of the Russian region.
