Ukrainian forces retreat from Sudzha as Russian control escalates

The Interfax-Ukraine agency confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have withdrawn from the Russian town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. The General Staff declared that fighting with the Russians in these areas is ongoing; however, everything indicates that this is the end of the Ukrainian mission, which had been ongoing since August 6, 2024.

One of its goals was to draw Russia's attention to this area to slightly slow down the enemy's offensive in Donbas. A fragment of Russian territory was also meant to be a bargaining chip in negotiations with Vladimir Putin. Today, it is known that the Russian pressure was so intense that a gradual retreat of Ukrainian forces to their own territory is necessary. For Vladimir Putin, driving Ukrainians out of the Kursk region has been one of the urgent priorities in recent months.

The first recordings from the Russian-reclaimed Sudzha are appearing online. In one of them, soldiers are mocking an elderly, ill man. They placed him on a wheelbarrow with a rifle by his side. It is clear that the senior does not feel very confident in this situation.

Especially since the Russians are plainly speaking about shooting in such a way as to threaten the man. Internet users have pointed out that such humiliation of the civilian population by Putin's troops is nothing new. It is unknown what happened to the man later. What is certain, however, is that the population of Sudzha cannot feel safe with the return of Russian troops.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently denies reports that the army is surrounded in the Kursk region. However, it seems it is only a matter of days before the entire area is back under Kremlin control. Experts are already pondering what, from Kyiv's perspective, was the point of the Kursk operation.