Ukraine Refutes Russian Claims of Control in Kursk Amid Ongoing Conflict
Ukraine has firmly denied Russian assertions that Ukrainian forces have been expelled from the Kursk region, as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of staff of Russia's military, stated that Russian forces had regained full control of the area, eight months after Ukrainian troops launched a surprise incursion. Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized Ukraine's operations as a complete failure, suggesting that the situation had opened up opportunities for further Russian advances.
In response, Ukrainian military officials claimed that their forces were still actively conducting operations in Kursk, dismissing Russian claims as propaganda. Despite facing approximately 70,000 Russian troops and ongoing heavy drone attacks, the Ukrainian military insisted that their presence in Kursk remained intact and that they continued operations in the neighboring Belgorod region of Russia.
The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk began last August, intended to create a buffer zone that would inhibit Russian forces from advancing on Ukraine's eastern front line. This announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that Russia and Ukraine were nearing a potential agreement to end the ongoing war, citing discussions between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin.
Trump's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican also highlighted Zelensky's call for a full and unconditional ceasefire prior to any formal peace negotiations. However, reports indicate that Trump has been pressuring Kyiv to consider territorial concessions, possibly involving the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukraine considers the land seized from the Kursk region as a potential negotiating tool in future talks, especially given that Russia has maintained control over approximately 20% of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory since its full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a video conference with Putin, Gerasimov mentioned that the last settlement in the Kursk area, the village of Gornal, had been 'liberated' from Ukrainian forces and praised the efforts of North Korean troops for their assistance in these military operations. Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials continue to assert the challenges they face but remain resolute in holding their positions and undertaking counter-efforts against Russian advances. With the ongoing conflict showing no immediate signs of resolution, both sides continue to engage in a war of narratives while on the battlefield, the situation remains perilous and fluid.
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