The Ukrainian operation in Kursk is taking its final steps. In the early hours of this Wednesday, Kiev's troops withdrew from their positions in the city of Sudzha, the largest in the area, and gradually reached the border region of Sumy. Despite the fierceness of the fighting in recent days, the withdrawal was carried out gradually and without significant casualties, although the roads in the region are now filled with armored vehicles and vehicles of all kinds from both sides, destroyed by clashes between the two armies.
After eight months of Ukrainian presence in Russian territory, it is currently unknown whether they intend to stay in any small fraction of land or if the withdrawal is total. The Kursk operation, which began by surprise and allowed hundreds of Russian prisoners in its early moments, has had a significant political message to demonstrate Russian vulnerability, as their territory had not been partially conquered since World War II.
A video of Russian troops in the center of Sudzha reveals that the troops of the Z were reaching those positions without a fight, as they were already empty. The withdrawal is motivated, from a military point of view, by the worsening of Ukrainian logistics. The Russians already had the roads to supply Ukrainian defensive positions within artillery and drone range. Additionally, with negotiations starting yesterday in Saudi Arabia, according to several analysts, Ukrainians realized that the Kursk card as a bargaining chip might not be as useful as they had imagined.
At this point, Zelenski did seek a ceasefire, as achieved yesterday with the White House, knowing that the Russians would never agree to it with Ukrainians on their own territory. The U.S. has mainly emphasized the joint mineral exploitation agreement as a bargaining tool, not any agreement to exchange Kursk with the Russians. Now Moscow has no excuse to reject the ceasefire.
In any case, the Kursk operation, as a temporary mission, ends for the Ukrainians having achieved a large part of their objectives: their losses were moderate compared to the Russian losses, sometimes with ratios of one to four dead. By withdrawing in an orderly and timely manner, Ukraine avoids the mistakes of Avdiivka, Bakhmut, and other battles, where they were criticized for withdrawing too late and under enemy fire.
Many residents of the Sumy region recently expressed their fears to this reporter that Russia, after completing the operation to take over the entire territory, might decide to enter Sumy. This option is possible but not straightforward, as natural obstacles separating both countries (a river during the flood season) are combined with fortifications that Ukrainians have been building for months, including several layers of dragon's teeth and landmines.
In this battle, the Russians have committed 50,000 soldiers from their best paratrooper units with their best armored vehicles. This has prevented Russia from focusing on its offensive in the Donetsk region, whose strength has been dissipating in recent months until coming to a complete halt. The Koreans, with their absurd kamikaze attacks, have lost at least half of their contingent.