Ukrainian troops risk losing control of conquered territories in Kursk Oblast – AP
www.pravda.com.ua
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:33:48 +0200
Exhausted and demoralised Ukrainian troops risk losing much of the territory in Russias Kursk Oblast that they captured during a lightningfast August offensive.
Source Associated Press, citing seven Ukrainian soldiers and commanders who spoke on condition of anonymity about the situation on the front line Details The publication writes that a significant number of Ukrainian units are in a state of exhaustion.
The fighting is so intense that some Ukrainian commanders are unable to evacuate the dead.
Delays in communication and illtimed tactics are costing lives, and the troops have little opportunity to counterattack.
According to the newspaper, Russia has deployed more than 50,000 troops on this front, including troops from North Korea.
Quote Precise numbers are hard to obtain, but Moscows counterattack has killed and wounded thousands, and the overstretched Ukrainians have lost more than 40 of the 984 square kilometres 380 square miles of Kursk they seized in August.
Details Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that he hoped control of Kursk would help force Russia to negotiate an end to the war.
However, five Ukrainian and Western officials in Kyiv, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AP that they fear Zelenskyys gamble will weaken the entire 1,000km front line, leading to the loss of precious ground in the east.
Quote Some frontline commanders said conditions are tough, morale is low, and troops are questioning command decisions, even the very purpose of occupying Kursk.
Another commander said that some orders his men have received dont reflect reality because of delays in communication.
They dont understand where our side is, where the enemy is, whats under our control, and what isnt, he said.
They dont understand the operational situation, so we act at our own discretion, the commander says.
Details One of the platoon commanders said that he had repeatedly asked the higher command to change his units defensive position because they could not hold it, but the command rejected his requests.
Quote Those people who stand until the end are ending up MIA missing in action ed., he said.
He also said he knew of at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers whose bodies had been abandoned over the past four months because the fighting was too intense to evacuate them without causing additional casualties.
The Ukrainian military said it was not prepared for Russias aggressive response in Kursk and could neither counterattack nor retreat.
Theres no other option.
Well fight here because if we just pull back to our borders, they wont stop theyll keep advancing, said one of the commanders of a drone unit.
All the military can think about now is that Donbas has simply been sold, said a platoon commander.
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