“Everything is Finished”: Ukrainian Troops Describe Kursk Retreat Amid Drone Onslaught

Ukrainian soldiers have likened their retreat from Russia’s Kursk region to a “horror movie”, detailing catastrophic losses, relentless drone strikes, and logistical collapse. As Russia reclaims Sudzha, the largest town held by Ukraine, firsthand accounts reveal a dire battlefield reality.

Catastrophic Withdrawal: Key Moments from the Frontlines

• Sudzha’s Fall: Ukrainian troops faced “panic and collapse” as Russia amassed 70,000 troops, including 12,000 North Korean soldiers, to retake the town.
• Drone Dominance: Russian FPV and kamikaze drones, some fiber-optic guided, decimated supply convoys.
• Logistical Nightmare: A single highway (Sudzha-Sumy) became a death trap, littered with “hundreds of destroyed vehicles”.

Soldier Testimonies (Aliases Used):

1. Volodymyr: “Drones swarm the sky 24/7. Leaving by day means certain death.”
2. Maksym: “Routes clogged with wrecked armor. North Korean troops flooded the front.”
3. Anton: “No ammo, no food. We escaped on foot, inches from drone strikes.”
4. Dmytro: “Pushed a stuck car, then a drone hit—comrades wounded, forests our only refuge.”
5. Artem: “We fought like lions. The buffer zone protects Sumy.”

Strategic Implications: Costs and Consequences

• Ukrainian Losses: Thousands dead since August; Western-supplied tanks/vehicles abandoned or destroyed.
• Russian Gains: Control of 1,000 sq km; claims of 50,000 Ukrainian casualties (disputed by Kyiv).
• Buffer Zone: Ukraine’s General Syrskyi insists retreat to “favorable positions” shields Sumy and Pokrovsk.

Technology’s Role:

• FPV Drones: Russia’s unjammable fiber-optic models outmatched Ukraine’s electronic countermeasures.
• Air Superiority: Precision strikes crippled Ukrainian supply lines.

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What’s Next for Ukraine’s Strategy?

• General Syrskyi’s Stance: Maintain Kursk foothold “as long as necessary” despite territorial losses.
• Zelensky’s Claim: Kursk offensive diverted Russian forces, easing pressure on eastern fronts.
• Western Analysis: Two-thirds of initial gains lost; ceasefire prospects dim.

Final Thought:
The Kursk retreat underscores Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare challenges against Russia’s drone-tech dominance. While Kyiv touts strategic wins, the human and material toll paints a grim portrait of modern combat.

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