Russia says it has taken over three localities in its Koursk region in the Ukrainian army – Liberation
Does Russia regain ground? This Sunday, March 9, Moscow claimed the capture of Novenké, a village in the Ukrainian region of Soumy, as well as that of three localities in the Russian region of Koursk. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it has taken over the villages of Malaïa Loknia, Tcherkasskoïé Poretchnau and Kossitsa. In recent days, the positions of the Ukrainian army had quickly deteriorated there while Kyiv hopes to use his control of a small part of the Russian region as a currency of exchange in the event of peace negotiations.
For its part, the Ukrainian region of Soumy had been partially occupied at the start of the Russian invasion three years ago, but the Russian troops withdrew in the spring of 2022. The successful offensive claimed by Moscow this Sunday would thus constitute a first since this retreat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had already said in mid-February that his forces were Entrances to Ukraine from the Koursk region. A « lie »according to Kyiv. But since then, Ukrainian officials had mentioned Russian attacks Isolated, ensuring repel them each time. Still on Saturday, while observers mentioned Russian successes in the Soumy region, the Ukrainian government center against disinformation had assured that there was no « Massive advance ».
The Ukrainian army has not yet commented on the claim of the taking of NOVENKÉ. This village, already attacked at the end of February, is located about ten kilometers west of Soudja, the main city held by Kyiv in the Koursk region. Advanced seems to be linked to a breakthrough of the Russian army in the Koursk region, which could threaten the supplies of Ukrainian soldiers in the area, according to Russian military bloggers.
In the Koursk region, Moscow also claimed the resumption of the village of Lebedevka on Sunday, after having already said that she has rejected Ukrainian forces from three other villages in the area the day before. Russia has already taken over more than two thirds of the territory initially conquered by Ukraine. In mid-February, Ukraine said it had controlled 500 km².
A commander of the Russian army, apti Alaoudinov, who often comments on the situation, assured on Saturday on Telegram that Moscow troops had launched « A large -scale offensive in all directions in the Koursk section ». These soldiers, who seek to surround the Ukrainian troops, are now approaching Sudja run by the Ukrainians. They moved along a gas pipeline « In order to gain a foothold in the outskirts of the city »said the Ukrainian army on Saturday.
This Kyiv offensive was to relieve the eastern front and constitute an asset with a view to peace negotiations. But, according to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia will seek to use its « Limited gains » In the Soumy region to chase the Ukrainian troops from its Koursk region. And the Russian army, better armed and more numerous, is still advancing in the East Ukrainian despite heavy losses and at a slower rate than in the fall. Peace negotiations have not yet materialized, but this hypothesis is increasingly mentioned.
Update : At 6.30 p.m., with Moscow, which claims to take three villages from Koursk.
