KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top military commander says his forces now control 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russia’s neighboring Kursk region, the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of the lightning incursion that has embarrassed the Kremlin.
Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi made the statement in a video posted Monday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel. In the video, he briefed the president on the front-line situation.
“The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control,” Syrskyi said.
Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to the surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.
If they skedaddle in a timely manner, they may end up with a morale-booster, and embarrassment for Putin, and an easing of pressure somewhere along the line due to the need for Russia to pull troops to retake this “little patch of ground that hath no profit in it but the name.”
If they stay and get wiped out, then I am not at all sure it will have been worth it.
If they stay and shift Russia firepower to having to blow up their own towns for a change, its also worthwhile. That might also limit the sort of arsenal Russia uses, and give them a buffer from attacks on Ukraine. They’ll need to build significant defenses though.