"The North Group of Forces has liberated 12 settlements… and more than 100 square kilometers of the Kursk region." - Russia's Defense Ministry
On March 11, 2025, the Russian military announced a significant shift in the Kursk region, claiming to have retaken over 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles) and 12 villages from Ukrainian forces in the past 24 hours. But what exactly fueled this sudden advance?
The recaptured settlements include:
All strategically positioned north or east of the Ukrainian-held city of Sudzha. The question is, how did Russia achieve this breakthrough?
Analysts suggest that these advances may be linked to a significant shift: U.S. President Donald Trump's suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine. Did this policy change create an opening for Russia to exploit?
Reports indicate a daring operation involving 800 Russian special forces who allegedly crawled 15 kilometers through an unused gas pipeline to launch a surprise attack on Ukrainian forces in Sudzha.
The broadcaster RTVI, citing a unit commander, reported that the pipeline sneak attack had “disoriented” the Ukrainian troops and helped Russia to retake several Kursk region villages.
While Ukraine claims to have repelled the initial assault, the incident raises serious questions about unconventional warfare tactics and vulnerabilities in defensive lines.
Back in August, Ukrainian forces initially captured 1,376 square kilometers of the Kursk region, envisioning it as leverage for future peace talks. However, according to DeepState, a battlefield tracker with links to the Ukrainian military, that area has now shrunk to less than 290 square kilometers (110 square miles) as of Tuesday.
Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskyi maintains that the Russian counteroffensive does not pose an encirclement risk, stating that Ukrainian forces are merely pulling back to “advantageous positions for defense.” Is this a strategic retreat, or a sign of a weakening position?
Adding another layer of complexity, the state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported that Russian forces have "liberated" an industrial zone in Sudzha and are engaged in fighting in a residential area.
[It is important to note that these battlefield reports from both sides have not been independently verified.]
The situation in Kursk remains fluid and contested, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives. As the conflict evolves, these are the critical questions that demand answers.