Ukrainian forces are fleeing the strategic region of Kursk after Russia took the city of Sudzha in a lightning offensive.
In August, Ukraine launched the first invasion of Russia since World War II, rapidly seizing roughly 386 square miles centered on the city of Sudzha. Kyiv hoped to use the enclave as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Moscow, exchanging the territory for Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. After a daring surprise assault by Russian forces through a gas pipeline on Sunday, Ukrainian lines collapsed, with Russian forces seizing Sudzha on Wednesday. Just as Ukraine is looking to enter serious negotiations, it looks set to lose its greatest bargaining chip.
By March, Russian forces had already reduced the Ukrainian salient in Kursk to about one third of what it was in August, allegedly with the help of a North Korean expedition force. After the near collapse triggered by an assault from all sides, combined with the pipeline assault, Russian forces triumphantly raised their flag over Sudzha.
Facing encirclement, Ukrainian and Russian sources both reported that Ukrainian forces began withdrawing from Kursk earlier this week.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky appeared to admit a withdrawal in a statement, saying that “units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, if necessary, will maneuver to more advantageous positions.”
The rapid fall of Sudzha came as a shock to many Russians — soldiers and commanders alike feared that the battle for the city would be the bloody climax of the Kursk campaign, possibly taking months. Instead, it fell in about three days.
Russian soldiers were seen brandishing the Russian, airborne, Wagner, and Russian Imperial flags in the center of Sudzha.
Ukrainian sources insisted on an orderly withdrawal, but dozens of videos showed the chaotic retreat of Ukrainian troops and vehicles alike. Russian artillery, aviation, and first-person drones covered the road out of Sudzha, devastating vehicles, equipment, and soldiers alike.
One video showed dozens of burned-out or abandoned vehicles on the road leading out of Sudzha.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, visited the Russian military headquarters in Kursk for a briefing on the operation.
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said that over 400 Ukrainian soldiers had been taken prisoner in the final offensive. He put the total losses of Ukrainian forces throughout the campaign at 67,000, though both sides are known to exaggerate the casualties of the other.
He also reported that 86% of the areas in Kursk taken by Ukraine in August had been retaken.
Putin said that Ukrainian soldiers captured in Kursk would be treated as terrorists, accusing them of crimes against civilians. He said any foreign mercenaries caught wouldn’t be protected by the Geneva Convention.
Russia has already begun moving its forces into the adjacent Sumy region, an area not trod upon by Russian forces since April 2022.
One of Ukraine’s goals in taking Kursk had been to divert Russian troops away from the Donbas front, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Russia has continued its steady advance across the Donbas since August.
Russia’s assaults on the Kursk salient had been intensifying for the past few weeks but reached a fever pitch on Sunday. According to Russian reports, up to 800 Russian soldiers crawled through a 56-inch diameter gas pipeline, traveling nearly 9 miles before emerging behind Ukrainian lines. The plan had reportedly been in the works for months — engineers had worked to pump out remaining gas pockets and pump in oxygen. Nevertheless, several soldiers suffered methane poisoning during the journey.
Ukrainian sources originally reported that the attack had been quickly discovered and foiled, but subsequent footage showed the soldiers reaching as far as Suzhda proper. The attack spread panic across Ukrainian lines, contributing to their ultimate collapse soon after. Russian sources have praised the operation as one of the greatest feats of arms in Russian history. It even earned some respect from some Ukrainians.
The rout represented the most rapid acquisition of territory by either side since Ukraine’s original Kursk offensive in August.
The sudden success of the Russians could dampen the appeal of a ceasefire, agreed upon by Ukraine for the first time on Tuesday after a meeting with U.S. officials.
