Russia pushes into Kursk and threatens Ukraine's negotiating position

Russia pushes into Kursk and threatens Ukraine's negotiating position

The situation in the Russian region of Kursk has deteriorated dramatically, which Kiev endangers the only territorial negotiation capital at a crucial moment of war. Military bloggers on both sides report that Ukraine is under pressure - according to reports, Russian armed forces have used a gas pipeline to carry out a surprising robbery in an area. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that its troops had conquered three more settlements.

Ukrainian offensive in Kursk

In August, Ukraine carried out a surprising advance into the Kursk region, in which it conquered terrain close to the terrain, which is the first ground invasion by Russia through foreign power since the Second World War. In addition to the conquest of the country, which could possibly be exchanged for Russian territory, the offensive also aimed to distract the resources of Moscow from the front in the east.

changed diplomatic conditions

Since then, however, Ukraine has had difficulty keeping control of its territory in Kursk, and faces a fundamentally changed diplomatic environment. US President Donald Trump exerts pressure on Kiev to reach an agreement in peace by stopping military aid and the exchange of secret service information.

Current fights and challenges

Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers warn that Kiev's control over the region is fragile than ever before, since the Russian troops, supported by North Korean forces, carry out attacks continuously. CNN could not review the reports about the fights independently, but corresponding bloggers have delivered accurate accounts of the battles in the past.

The latest reports indicate that Russia is targeting the city of Sudzha on the border in order to cut an important logistical supply path to the Ukrainian troops. The Ukrainian military blogger Yuriy Butusov reported that the Russian armed forces invaded a gas pipeline in Sudzha on Saturday.

tactical missions and challenges

"The Russians used a gas pipeline to use a storm command unnoticed by drones and push themselves into our combat formations," wrote Butusov. He added that the pipeline was now under increased surveillance and that the Moscow troops were "eliminated" there. However, Butusov warned that the Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk region have a "clear advantage in strength" and "constantly attack".

North Korean troops on site

About 12,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Kursk, which has strengthened Russia's offensive within its own limits. If Russia can regain complete control over Kursk, it could send its troops to eastern Ukraine.

"It's hard, but we are working on it," a Ukrainian soldier told CNN. "The Koreans come again and again." An unofficial Russian military blogger gave a similar description for the city of Sudzha and claimed that around 100 Russian soldiers had infiltrated in the settlement after a secret access via the pipeline - a step that in his opinion was possible after Kiev had posted the Russian gas deliveries to the European Union via Ukraine.

strategic assessments and future outlook

Russian armed forces attack Sudzha from several directions, while the Russian military blogger Yuriy Kotenok explained that "any movements of the enemy in this area are recognized by our drones and that the staff and the equipment of the enemy are attacked." Kotenok also claimed that there was "information" that Ukraine plans to withdraw from the Kursk region, "based on the current situation."

Sternenko, a Ukrainian blogger, expressed that the logistical situation was "already critical". Another challenge is the "bad road conditions". With spring, which brings warmer weather, the soil will soften, which makes the streets mushy and even more difficult to drive on. "All of these circumstances are very beneficial to the Russians," he added.

Kiev fears that Russia's profits could do the supply routes to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk. In an important report by the Institute for the Study of War, a conflict monitor based in the USA, it was estimated that a maximum of 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers are stationed in the region.

strategic considerations on the courtyard offensive

Incursion in Kursk was embarrassing for Moscow and questioned the ability to protect its own limits. Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly promised that his troops will be able to regain complete control over the region. Since then, Kiev has lost about half of the territory, which it previously held in Kursk.