The Ukrainian Defense Minister has denied Russian claims that thousands of Ukrainian troops are encircled in Kursk.
“Our Defense Forces continue to conduct defensive operations, and we are keeping a significant number of kilometers of enemy territory under control,” Rustem Umerov said in a comment for Fox News on Sunday.
He added: “To preserve some availability of the forces and troops, we have conducted some planned redeployment to more favorable defense lines, but at this stage, no unit of our Defense Forces is encircled.”
On Friday, following President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff’s Moscow visit for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Trump echoed the encirclement claim.
“We had excellent and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
He added: “I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!”
He added: “To preserve some availability of the forces and troops, we have conducted some planned redeployment to more favorable defense lines, but at this stage, no unit of our Defense Forces is encircled.”
On Friday, following President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff’s Moscow visit for talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Trump echoed the encirclement claim.
“We had excellent and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
He added: “I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!”
However, Umerov emphasized that claims that Russian and North Korean troops encircled thousands of Ukrainian soldiers during the military push are false, recalling that Putin made a similar, fake statement in October 2024 at the BRICS summit.
Russia made rapid military advances in Kursk in recent weeks, reclaiming control over the strategic town of Sudzha and forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat closer to the border.
According to BBC, military analysts estimate that Ukraine lost around two-thirds of the 1,000 sq km it won in the surprise incursion into Russian territory last August.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian troops had retreated from Sudhza, an important logistical hub. It produced maps showing that Kyiv’s forces still controlled two pockets of Russian-occupied territory along Ukraine’s border.
“We will continue our active operations with some offensive actions against the flanks of enemy forces to prevent their invasion of our territory,” the defense minister said.
As Kyiv loses grasp of the occupied land, its position in potential peace negotiations with Moscow is weakened.
On Tuesday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is set to discuss potential peace agreements with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
Russia made rapid military advances in Kursk in recent weeks, reclaiming control over the strategic town of Sudzha and forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat closer to the border.
According to BBC, military analysts estimate that Ukraine lost around two-thirds of the 1,000 sq km it won in the surprise incursion into Russian territory last August.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian troops had retreated from Sudhza, an important logistical hub. It produced maps showing that Kyiv’s forces still controlled two pockets of Russian-occupied territory along Ukraine’s border.
“We will continue our active operations with some offensive actions against the flanks of enemy forces to prevent their invasion of our territory,” the defense minister said.
As Kyiv loses grasp of the occupied land, its position in potential peace negotiations with Moscow is weakened.
On Tuesday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is set to discuss potential peace agreements with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
