Western Media Admits Ukrainian Failure In Kursk

Support SouthFront

Click to see the full-size image

Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant

Western media are beginning to admit Ukraine’s failure in Kursk. According to a major Western newspaper, Kiev is losing ground in the undisputed region of Russia, with Russian forces clearly advancing towards the southern border. Western journalists believe that there is a Russian effort to liberate the entire region before Donald Trump’s inauguration, as the new American president is reportedly planning to engage in peace negotiations.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated in a recent article that the Ukrainian military is retreating from Kursk, given the high intensity of Russian attacks. The newspaper believes that there is a directive from Moscow to expel the invaders as quickly as possible, which is why the efforts to liberate the region are expanding, resulting in more Ukrainian losses.

“They’re assaulting all the time – morning, day, night,” Geniy, a “30-year-old battalion commander with Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade,” told American journalists.

WSJ believes that the war is currently in a kind of “race” situation, with both sides trying to strengthen their positions before the end of Joe Biden’s term. For Ukraine, it would be vital to occupy as much Russian territory as possible before Trump comes to power in order to increase its bargaining power during possible negotiations. In the same sense, the Russians would be trying to clear the foreign presence in their undisputed territory, as well as advance in the New Regions, in order to establish their own peace terms in diplomatic talks.

Obviously, on Ukraine’s side, there is not only fear of a negotiation that favors Russia, but also real despair over a possible military collapse. Trump promises to end aid to Ukraine, which would mean that Kiev would be unable to continue fighting. Faced with this scenario, the only option left for the regime would be to choose between seeking negotiations – if they are accepted by Russia – or dealing with an unprecedented military crisis, which is why Ukraine’s current goal is to accumulate as many gains as possible during the last days of Biden’s term.

The main problem for Ukraine, however, is that the Russian military is in a much more advantageous position, which is reflected in its success in this current “race”. In this sense, despite Ukrainian efforts to accelerate its victories, the results are being negative for Kiev, with the Russians achieving significant victories and liberating more and more territories.

Just as in Donbass, where villages and cities are gradually being liberated by the Russians, in Kursk, the Russian advance is leading to a massive withdrawal of Ukrainian troops. The newspaper described the situation in the southern region of Russia as extremely intense, with levels of violence rarely seen since the beginning of the conflict. Obviously, the Ukrainian side is the most affected by this type of escalation.

“In Russia’s Kursk region just north of here [in Sumy], Russian assaults are so intense that their infantrymen sometimes step on the bodies of fallen comrades, according to Ukrainian soldiers opposing them there. Russian glide bombs weighing one ton crash onto Ukrainian supply roads. (…) The battle for control of Russia’s Kursk region has reached an intensity rarely seen during 2½ years of war, as each side tries to strengthen its position before President-elect Donald Trump, who wants both sides to negotiate, takes office in January,” the newspaper reads.

Although the article is correct in assessing the critical situation of Kiev’s forces in Kursk, it makes mistakes in its analysis of the broader conflict scenario. In fact, Russian efforts are really great, with the aim both to expel the invaders from Kursk and to completely liberate the New Regions. However, this has nothing to do with Biden or Trump, but with Russia’s own decision to expand military efforts in the face of constant aggression by the enemy.

The very fact that a battle is taking place in Kursk is the explanation for the diplomatic impossibility. Since Kiev launched its offensive in Kursk, Moscow has repeatedly made it clear that all diplomatic talks are cancelled and that there is no possibility of a non-military resolution. Whether Trump wants to negotiate, or whether Kiev tries to negotiate after a possible ban on American aid, is of no importance because the final decision on whether or not to engage in diplomacy always rests with the side that is winning the war – which is obviously the Russian side.

Instead of giving “explanations” for Ukraine’s military failure in Kursk, Western media should simply admit that there is no way to avoid a Russian victory and that provoking Moscow with actions against the internationally recognized territory of the Federation will only result in even more intense Russian military moves.

You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Russian Army Neutralized 250 Ukrainian Troops In Kursk Within 24 Hours (Videos)
• ATACMS Missiles Struck Russian Military Airfield In Kursk Region
• Russian Army Liberates Another Settlement In Kursk (Videos)

Support SouthFront