Ukraine Ends Kursk Operation After Seven Months of Fighting
Ukrainian forces retreat from almost all captured territory in Kursk, citing Russian counterattacks and external pressures, while maintaining a small border presence.
- The Ukrainian military has withdrawn nearly entirely from the Kursk region after a seven-month operation that began in August 2024.
- The operation aimed to disrupt Russian offensive plans and reduce pressure on other fronts, particularly in the Donbass region.
- Ukrainian forces initially captured 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory but faced mounting challenges, including intense drone harassment and a ten-day Russian counteroffensive.
- The withdrawal was reportedly influenced by Russian military pressure and U.S. insistence, though analysts do not view it as a catastrophic defeat.
- A small Ukrainian contingent remains near the border to bolster defenses against potential future Russian incursions into northern Ukraine.
Courrier International 
l'Opinion 
Le Figaro 