Ukraine’s army chief states that Kursk operation was necessary

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, believes that the Ukrainian operation in Russia’s Kursk region has been a success. 

According to the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, the operation in the Kursk region prevented the Russian offensive on Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast of Ukraine.

The four-star general Syrskyi shared his thoughts in an interview with Le Monde. He explained that he had no choice but to carry out the operation. 

He also believes that the suddenness of the operation in the Kursk region contributed to its success. Thanks to it, the Russians did not achieve their goals for 2024, Oleksandr Syrskyi said. 

“I had to conduct this operation. It was necessary to disrupt the offensive on Kharkiv, ease the pressure on all fronts, and prevent a new front from opening on Sumy. So, I decided to strike where Russia had a weak point, with very few soldiers guarding the border,” he said.

Oleksandr Syrskyi also believes that the operation weakened Russia’s offensive potential by reducing the intensity of their attacks, “except in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.”

He noted that the Russians had to transfer a significant number of troops from their best combat units to the Kursk region. In this way, it was possible to weaken the Russian offensive potential and reduce the intensity of attacks, with the exception of the Pokrovske and Kurakhove areas.

In recent months, Russian invading troops have been conducting massive attacks on these two towns in Donbas, using significant forces and resources despite heavy losses.

Syrskyi was appointed head of the Ukrainian army on February 8, replacing General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, as the battle raged for control of the town of Avdiivka, which fell to the Russian invading troops a week later.

The Ukrainian forces launched the Kursk operation on August 6. Early November, three months into the operation, saw the surrender and capture of over 700 Russian soldiers. Almost 8,000 Russian troops were killed and more than 12,000 were wounded, according to the data published by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

By mid-November, the Russians had significantly intensified their assaults in the Kursk region. Here, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled dozens of attacks a day.

Russian troops, with the support of their North Korean allies, have been trying to make an active offensive in the Kursk region for several weeks.

In the fall, the Russians managed to regain control of half of the territories from which the Ukrainian forces pushed them out in August. According to the Ukrainian military, in the Kursk region, the Russians have a “huge” advantage in men, artillery, and vehicles.