Photo: Kremlin.ru
On 13 March, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced the capture of the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, but the Ukrainian command denied this, stressing that fighting continued on the outskirts, the BBC reported.
What’s going on in Suji?
According to the official statement of the Russian Ministry of Defence, Russian troops allegedly “liberated” Sudzha, Melovyi and Podil. It is also reported that the Russian army struck at Ukrainian units in the suburbs of the city – in the villages of Honcharivka and Zaoleshenka.
The Ukrainian side has not yet commented on this statement, but the day before, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky stressed that the fighting for Sudzha was ongoing. According to him, the city was almost completely destroyed by Russian air strikes.
On the DeepState map as of 13 March, the northern and western outskirts of Suji are still marked as an active combat zone.
Why is Suja of strategic importance?
The Ukrainian army entered the Kursk region on 6 August 2024, explaining that it was necessary to create a “buffer zone” to protect Sumy region from a possible new Russian offensive.
However, the situation changed significantly in March:
- The US temporarily stopped providing intelligence and military assistance to Ukraine, which made defence more difficult;
- Russian and North Korean troops were able to take fire control of key logistics routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including the Yunakivka-Suja road;
- Russian forces conducted a bypass manoeuvre through the gas pipeline in an attempt to get to the rear of Ukrainian positions.
As a result, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command began a gradual withdrawal of troops towards the border with Sumy region.
What remains under Ukraine’s control?
According to DeepState, at the beginning of March, the Ukrainian Armed Forces controlled 396 km² of Kursk region, but by 12 March, this area had shrunk to 140 km².
They remain under Ukrainian control for now:
- Villages along the Yunakivka-Sudzha road, including Hoholivka, Rubanshchyna, and Oleshnya;
- Positions on the Psyol River in the districts of Guievo and Hornal.
Syrsky assures that Ukrainian troops will hold the line as long as it is appropriate.
Results of the Kursk operation
After seven months of fighting, both sides have already begun to sum up the results of this operation.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops have lost ground since the start of the operation:
– More than 55,000 soldiers (22,200 irretrievably lost, 31,800 sanitary, 942 in captivity);
– 90 tanks, 654 armoured vehicles, 5 MLRS, 2 air defence systems, 1 aircraft, 2 helicopters;
– More than 1,100 trucks and 28 units of special equipment.
Russia, in turn, claims much higher losses in Ukraine, but independent sources, including the BBC, cannot confirm these figures.
What’s next?
The fighting in Kursk region continues, and it is unclear whether Russia will be able to hold Sudzha after the announcement of its “liberation”. The main question is whether the Ukrainian retreat will continue or whether the Ukrainian Armed Forces will conduct counter-offensives to regain lost ground.
