Ukrainian soldiers stationed in the Russian Kursk region say they have been given orders to hold on to territory there until the end of January, anticipating a shift in U.S. foreign policy following the inauguration of a new president.
In messages shared by Ukrainian soldiers, there is a strong sense of frustration and confusion. “The situation worsens with each passing day,” one soldier wrote, while another said, “We don’t know why we’re here. This isn’t our land.”
The Ukrainian forces had launched a bold offensive into the Kursk region several months ago, but many soldiers now feel they are fighting an unclear battle. With Russian forces slowly regaining ground, soldiers have described being under constant bombardment, including the terrifying use of large glide bombs. “It’s only a matter of time before we lose more ground,” said one soldier in late November.
The soldiers complain of overwhelming exhaustion, the harsh winter conditions, and a lack of proper rest due to constant rotations of troops with little downtime. “Our bodies can’t handle it,” said one soldier. “They’re sending us middle-aged men with no time to rest.”
While it’s common for soldiers to express frustration during tough conditions, the mood in Kursk is particularly grim. Some soldiers question whether the original objective of the operation drawing Russian forces away from Ukraine’s eastern front — has been achieved. Many soldiers are now focused on holding as much territory as possible until January when, they hope, the new U.S. president might alter the course of the war.
“The mission now is just to hold the land until Trump takes office and negotiations begin,” said one soldier. “We don’t know what happens next.”
As the situation has dragged on, Ukrainian President Zelensky has acknowledged that the Russian leadership is likely aiming to push Ukrainian forces out of the region before the U.S. presidential transition. “Putin wants to show he controls the situation by January 20, but he doesn’t,” Zelensky remarked.
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Meanwhile, Western allies have provided Ukraine with long-range missiles, such as the Atacms and Storm Shadows, to counter Russian counterattacks. However, for many soldiers on the front lines, these advanced weapons feel distant and irrelevant. “We’re here in the cold, under constant bombardment, and missiles don’t change that,” said one soldier.
The situation in Kursk is critical for Ukraine, especially as Russia has been steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine. In October alone, Russian forces regained an estimated 500 square kilometers of territory, marking their most significant gains since the initial stages of the invasion in 2022.
For Ukrainian soldiers, the key challenge now is not capturing more territory, but holding on to what they have. Despite significant losses in Kursk, some soldiers believe the campaign was still worthwhile in drawing Russian forces away from more strategic areas like Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.
However, some soldiers feel misplaced. “We should be focusing on our own land, not fighting for forests in Kursk,” said one. “We don’t need this land; our comrades died here for nothing.”
Reports about the involvement of North Korean troops in the Russian counteroffensive have surfaced, but Ukrainian soldiers on the ground have not encountered any. “I’ve heard nothing about them,” said one soldier. Despite this, Ukrainian commanders have offered rewards for anyone who captures a North Korean soldier, though soldiers seem skeptical about the reports of their presence.
In the dark forests of Kursk, soldiers continue to face overwhelming pressure as they hold on to territory in the hope that a change in leadership in Washington will bring new opportunities for negotiation and peace.
