Butusov raised doubts about the strategic decisions made by the Ukrainian military leadership in their efforts to defend Kurakhove. He warned that the situation in Kurakhove could follow a similar trajectory to that seen in other cities in eastern Ukraine, such as Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Vuhledar, which eventually succumbed to relentless assaults by Russian forces. These prolonged battles, characterized by intense fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, were likened to a “meat-grinder” by observers.
On the other hand, blogger Bohdan Miroshnikov commended the Ukrainian troops for their resilience in Kurakhove, describing their actions as “miraculous.” Despite the heavy toll taken on Ukrainian forces, he emphasized that their efforts were crucial in preventing further destabilization by the enemy.
In a separate development, Ukrainian forces have initiated counterattacks in Kursk, despite facing opposition from Russian troops and recently deployed North Korean forces attempting to push them back across the border. Ukrainian troops engaged Russian forces in multiple locations in Kursk over the weekend, with a senior official asserting that Russia was facing the consequences of its actions.
The Ukrainian military reported on Tuesday that it had targeted Russia’s 810th Separate Marine Brigade in Belaya, located to the southeast of the area in Kursk under Ukrainian control. The conflict in Kursk has seen fluctuations, with Ukrainian forces making significant advances earlier in the summer, marking the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War II. However, Russian forces managed to regain ground, resulting in a stalemate that persisted for weeks prior to Ukraine’s recent offensive.
Addressing the nation in his daily briefing on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the significance of the ongoing Kursk operation in deterring Russia from reallocating its troops to other fronts, such as Donetsk and other regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. Zelensky underscored the substantial losses suffered by the enemy in Kursk, with over 38,000 troops reported killed or wounded, including approximately 15,000 fatalities.
The maintenance of a “buffer zone” on Russian soil by Ukrainian forces was emphasized by the President as a strategic imperative in safeguarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The ongoing conflict in Kursk serves as a pivotal battleground in preventing the further expansion of Russian military influence in the region.
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