Ukrainians Still Hold Sudzha, In Kursk. Some Units Pull Back But Remain In Russia

The most recent updates from the fighting in Kursk reveal that Ukrainian forces remain in Sudzha where the battle is street to street. 

Some units have pulled back or maneuvered to more advantageous positions, but as of now, most remain on the Russian side of the border and have not retreated into Ukrainian territory. JL

Olha Kyrylenko and Oleksandr Shumilin report in Ukraine Pravda:

Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk Oblast, particularly near Sudzha, are not entirely withdrawing from the Kursk front. Units confirmed they are being repositioned on the Russian side of the border. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ukraine's Armed Forces, stated Ukraine’s defence forces will maintain their positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast "for as long as it remains reasonable". Ukrainian troops will manoeuvre to more advantageous positions if their lives are at risk. Ukrainian units, particularly airborne troops, remain in Kursk Oblast and are being pulled back closer to the Russo-Ukrainian border – but not beyond it. Ukrainian soldiers were still holding Sudzha on 12 March

Ukrainian troops are making a significant retreat in Russia's Kursk Oblast, particularly near the town of Sudzha, but are not entirely withdrawing from the Kursk front. Units that spoke to Ukrainska Pravda have confirmed they are being repositioned to positions on the Russian side of the border. 

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has stated that Ukraine’s defence forces will maintain their positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast "for as long as it remains reasonable and necessary". He noted that Ukrainian troops manoeuvre to more advantageous positions if their lives are at risk.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in two Ukrainian units deployed to the Kursk front

Details: Ukrainska Pravda has learned that some Ukrainian units, particularly airborne troops, remain in Kursk Oblast and are being pulled back closer to the Russo-Ukrainian border – but not beyond it.

Ukrainian soldiers were still holding Sudzha as of 12:00 on 12 March, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda sources. As of 16:00, there was no confirmation of a complete withdrawal from the town.

As of 12 March, the Ukrainian grouping in Kursk Oblast is not encircled, but the situation remains fragile, largely dependent on maintaining control of a key road for troop movement.

Background:

• On 12 March, Russian troops likely took control of Sudzha, which had been controlled by Ukrainian forces for over six months.
• On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's military command in Russia's Kursk Oblast was trying to save as many lives of Ukrainian soldiers as possible.