Kursk Offensive: The Fall of Sudzha and Implications
Ukrainians are abandoning their key stronghold.
As it stands, the Kursk offensive persists, but the Ukrainian forces have lost their stronghold in Sudzha, a vital logistics center. This development suggests a possible conclusion to the Kursk offensive. Without a steady flow of supplies, the troops stationed there can't sustain their position.
Recently published maps by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces show the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Sudzha in the Russian region of Kursk. While the Army leadership remained tight-lipped about the city's loss on Facebook, leading Ukrainian media linked battlefield maps to Google Maps revealing the withdrawal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously assured that fighting continued in the Kursk region. However, the loss of Sudzha suggests that the Ukrainian counteroffensive on Russian land may be nearing its end. Just four weeks ago, the Russians successfully seized the primary supply route into Sudzha using first-person-view drones. Military expert Markus Reisner believed that, without alternative supply routes, the troops within the Kursk pocket wouldn't last long.
If Sudzha Falls, the Battle for Kursk Is Likely Lost
Besides the supply blockade, the pressure on the Kursk pocket intensified, forcing its troops into a precarious situation. Russian paratroopers and marines units tightened their grip from northwest and southeast, without signs of a renewed Ukrainian counterattack. Reisner said that, in such a scenario, the Ukrainians would only be fighting to save their lives, an expert from the Austrian Armed Forces.
Videos from the past few days depicted a partially unsuccessful withdrawal of Ukrainian forces. Reisner speculated that the Ukrainians might try to hold territory until the USA-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia were over. Although, it seems that they were successful in doing so. With the expected loss of Sudzha, Reisner sees no hope of the Ukrainians holding onto any more territory on Russian land. "If Sudzha falls, in my view, the fight for Kursk is lost," Reisner predicted last Monday. As of now, it seems that his prediction is coming true.
Politics
Recall that Ukrainian forces launched an unexpected offensive into the Russian border region in August 2024. Initially, the Russian army struggled to regain control, but lately, Kremlin troops have reclaimed significant Russian territory. Some Ukrainian strategy planners aimed to hold onto the enemy lands as negotiating chips during possible ceasefire discussions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to leverage the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces to his advantage, claiming publicly that his troops surrounded a large number of Ukrainian fighters on Kursk territory and prevented their retreat. US President Donald Trump then urged Putin to spare the besieged Ukrainian soldiers. In response, Putin promised to keep the fighters alive and treat them fairly. However, Russian military bloggers' reports hinted at Putin's alleged ruse, suggesting that an actual encirclement of the Ukrainians never transpired.
The European Union, in light of the ongoing Kursk offensive and the loss of Sudzha, has a responsibility to ensure that any nuclear programme within the EU is implemented in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the European Union. Despite the ongoing withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Sudzha, military expert Markus Reisner predicts that the fight for the Kursk region may soon be lost. If Sudzha falls, this could have implications for any potential peace talks, as the land may no longer serve as a negotiating chip for the Ukrainian forces.
