Ukraine Withdraws from Most of Russia's Kursk Region
Ukrainian forces have largely retreated from Russia's Kursk region, maintaining control over only a small area as their extensive campaign to capture Russian territory seems to be concluding due to Moscow's counteroffensive. At its peak, the Ukrainian offensive covered approximately 500 square miles of Russian land. However, by Sunday, they were holding onto a narrow strip of about 30 square miles along the border, as noted by Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Black Bird Group in Finland.
"The battle is nearing its end," Paroinen stated in a phone conversation.
The exact amount of Russian territory still under Ukrainian control could not be independently verified, and reports indicate intense combat in the area. Faced with a rapid Russian advance supported by continuous airstrikes and drone attacks, Ukrainian forces have pulled back from several villages in the Kursk region, including Sudzha, the primary town they held.
The Ukrainian military command announced that their troops have repositioned to more defensible locations within Russia, utilizing the hilly landscape to enhance their fire control over advancing Russian troops. On Sunday, they released a map depicting the small area still under Ukrainian control in the Kursk region.
The duration for which Ukrainian forces can maintain this position remains uncertain. The ongoing conflict in Kursk is now more focused on securing strategic defensive positions to prevent Russian forces from advancing into Ukraine's Sumy region and opening a new front in the conflict.
"We are still holding our positions on the Kursk front," said an assault platoon commander, identified only by his call sign, Boroda, during a phone interview. "The main change is that our positions have moved significantly closer to the border."