According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, after the Ukrainian army’s attack on Kursk last August, Kyiv controlled more than 1,200 km2 in Kursk. Since then, Russia has organized attacks to push back Ukraine and has so far reclaimed about 800 square kilometers, according to The Moscow Times.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Western allies have described each area that Kyiv controls in Kursk as having an important role and can be used for bargaining if Kyiv and Moscow sit at the negotiating table.
Russia’s ‘unjammable’ UAV causes difficulties for Ukraine
Meanwhile, Bloomberg this week cited well-informed sources as saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to be “open to the possibility of a territorial exchange” with Ukraine as part of a potential discussion with the US President-elect. Donald Trump. However, the Russian leader will ask the West to ensure Kyiv never joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and will accept limits on military capabilities.
Russian T-72 tanks in the town of Sudzha in Kursk province in August
After more than 5 months since the Kursk offensive campaign, Ukrainian forces are said to be losing control, in the context of Russia increasing support in Kursk and at the same time making progress on the eastern front of Ukraine. Military observation site DeepState affiliated with the Ukrainian army, said the Kyiv army still controlled about 420 km2 at Kursk. About 150,000 people were evacuated in Kursk to ensure safety.
In related developments, the Russian army on January 17 declared control over the settlements of Leonidovo and Aleksandriya and arrested a number of Ukrainian soldiers, TASS reported.
