Vlad Backs Troops, Takes the Reins in Kursk
Surprise Visit by Putin to Kursk Border Region
In a surprising move, President Vladimir Putin dons his military gear and jumps into the thick of things, pays an unexpected visit to the border region of Kursk. Addressing his military brass, he issues a tough-as-nails order: Expel the last remnants of Ukrainian troops from the region, according to state news agency Tass.
Make no mistake, the President voices, they need to wipe out the enemy dug in Kursk posthaste. Putin's words echo from the military control center, though, as usual, we don't get the lowdown on the exact locale.
"Yes, it's about time we obliterate the enemy holed up in Kursk," Putin barks. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reports the Ukrainians are surrounded, giving the nod to a systematic whack-a-mole. Yet, verifying this information is like finding a needle in a haystack, even for seasoned investigators.
Why Kursk, you ask? This part of Russia's west, close to the border with northeastern Ukraine, has been a battleground since Ukrainian forces crossed over in August. They claimed control of at least 1,300 square kilometers. But now, things are turning around, with Russian forces retaking over 1,100 square kilometers, as per Gerasimov.
Putin's stern demeanor intensifies as he listens to Gerasimov. He sneers, "Label those fighting alongside the civilian population in Kursk as terrorists!" Clearly, these troops are making him toe the line. No Geneva Convention treatment for them, he warns.
Oh, and those talks about Ukraine's advance in Kursk as a bargaining chip? Like a wet noodle strung up, that plan's dissolving as Russia shifts gears, aiming to drive Ukrainian forces back into their own border regions.
Ukraine Takes a Step Back?
The Ukrainian Army Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyj, hinted at a possible withdrawal of his troops. "In dire situations like these, I've always put saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers first," Syrskyj muses on Facebook. He adds that if necessary, his units will shift their positions to safer spots. In fishing terms, that's as clear a sign of retreat as it gets.
But Syrskyj insists, their operations will continue wherever suitable and necessary. The sound of gunfire still resonates near Sudcha's outskirts, Syrskyj confirms. So, it's still Ukraine versus Russia in Kursk, but avoidance tactics are on the table now.
Sources: ntv.de, gut/rts/AFP/dpa
- Vladimir Putin
- Kursk
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Current Conflict
The European Union, in support of a common defence policy, recently expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Kursk, as Russia, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, intensifies its offensive against Ukrainian forces in the region. Following Putin's visit to Kursk, Russian General Valery Gerasimov reported the Ukrainian troops to be surrounded and under strategic attack, raising questions about the applicability of international conventions in the current conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyj hinted at a possible withdrawal of his troops from Kursk, suggesting a more defensive approach to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine confrontation.
