CNN
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President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were not surrounded by Russian troops in the Kursk region, accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of “liing” about the situation on the ground.
Ukraine began a shocking invasion of Kursk in August, quickly gaining territory, which was Russia’s first ground invasion by foreign forces since World War II. The campaign was intended to divert Moscow’s resources from the east frontline and occupy land that could be exchanged for the territory of Ukrainian occupying under Russian occupation.
Kyiv is currently behind Kursk, but Zelensky and military analysts have questioned Putin’s claim (reflected to US President Donald Trump) that Russian troops surround Ukrainian soldiers.
Putin on Thursday argued that Russian forces “isolated” Ukrainian forces in Kursk, and that it was “impossible” to escape even a small group of two or three soldiers.
“There are only two options: surrender or die,” Putin said.
A day later, Trump appeared to amplify Putin’s claims after what he called a “very good productive” argument with the Russian president.
“At this moment, thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by Russian troops, and are in a very bad and vulnerable position,” Trump said in the Truth and Society Post on Friday.
The US president did not specifically mention Kursk, but Putin later told the Russian Security Council that he “catched” Trump’s appeal to save the lives of Ukrainians in the region.
However, Ukrainian officials and independent analysts are challenging Putin and Trump’s claims.
The War Institute, a US-based conflict monitor, said Friday that it “has not observed any evidence of earth immersion indicating that Russian forces are siegeing a significant number of Ukrainian troops.”
The Ukrainian military said Russia was lying to shape its perception of events on the ground.
“Reporting of a ‘siege’ of Ukrainian units by enemies in the Kursk region is false and is made by the Russians to put political manipulation and pressure on Ukraine and its partners,” the military said.
“There is no threat of siege of our unit,” he added that Kursk’s unit “successfully reorganized” after its Russian attacks and “withdrawal to a more favorable defensive position.
In Saturday’s update, Zelensky said it was explained by Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Silsky, stressing that Ukrainian troops are not under siege.
“The units are performing tasks accurately when needed and continue to repel Russian and North Korean forces, Zelensky said.
Russian military bloggers say Ukraine is losing territory in Kursk, but some have also disputed reports that Moscow is “besieging” Kiev’s troops.
ISW suggested Putin was making suspicious claims about Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region to “distract him” from his administration over a US-backed ceasefire proposal.
Kiev agreed to the proposal on Tuesday during consultations with US Saudi officials, but Putin responded more vaguely, claiming that the transaction was not completed after saying “we agree to the proposal.”
“President Putin is trying to present himself as a rational and benevolent leader where President Trump can be involved and create a distracting new story,” Russia refused to agree to the ceasefire proposal, ISW wrote.
However, there is little controversy about Ukraine retreating in Kursk. This week, Moscow said Russian troops have recaptured Suda, the largest town once occupied by Ukraine, further weakening Kiev’s main negotiation tip in potential negotiations with Russia.
On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defense posted a video from Sudzha, who was immersed in the earth by the CNN, showing the city after being “liberated” by Russian troops. The video shows houses lying in abandoned ins, roads scattered with debris, and bodies of soldiers killed in battle.
