Ukrainian defense forces have left the key city of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk oblast to take up more advantageous positions along the Ukrainian state border, as indicated by an official map published by the General Staff on 15 March.
According to Militarnyi‘s report on 15 March,
“Defense forces of Ukraine withdrew from the city of Sudzha in Kursk oblast to occupy more advantageous positions near Ukraine’s eastern border.”
While the General Staff didn’t directly mention the loss of Sudzha in its 15 March statement, Ukrainian OSINT project Deep State reported that Russian forces had occupied the city.
The official battle map of operations in Kursk oblast showed that Ukrainian defense forces had left Sudzha:
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his address on 15 March that the Kursk operation continues successfully. He emphasized that the operation has forced Russia to divert significant forces to this area, which has reduced pressure on Ukrainian units in other directions.
“Defenders successfully hold off constant assaults by Russian and North Korean troops,” Zelenskyy stated.
Russian advances and Ukrainian positions
The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported late on 15 March that Russian forces continued offensive operations in Kursk oblast but have not completely pushed Ukrainian forces out of the area. The Institute stated that the Russians captured Sudzha on 12 March.
Ukrainian military expert Serhii Flash noted that the Ukrainian forces withdrew to high ground positions south of Sudzha:
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on 15 March that Russian forces had seized Zaoleshenka and Rubanshchina, both west of Sudzha, but ISW stated it had not observed evidence to confirm Russian forces had taken these settlements entirely.
Geolocated footage published on 12 March indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in western Basivka, northeast of Sumy City in Sumy Oblast, according to ISW.
In its 16 March morning bulletin, the Ukrainian Army’s General Staff reported 19 combat engagements in the Kursk region during the previous day. Russian forces reportedly launched 34 air strikes, dropping 63 guided bombs, and carried out 243 artillery strikes, including five using multiple launch rocket systems.
ISW reports that elements of the Russian 11th Airborne Brigade are operating near Gogolevka, while elements of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) and 177th Naval Infantry Regiment (Caspian Flotilla) are reportedly operating near Guyevo.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Assault troops reported on 15 March that paratroopers captured eight mobilized and contract Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast.
Related:
- Trump and Putin’s false claim about encircling Ukrainians in Kursk Oblast denied by both Russian and Ukrainian sources
- The Telegraph: Failed Kursk offensive weakens Ukraine’s bargaining position in potential talks
- ISW: Russian forces seize Sudzha town in Kursk Oblast
- Syrskyi: Ukrainians reposition to stronger defensive lines in Russia’s Kursk Oblast “if necessary”
- Forbes: Part of Ukrainian forces withdraw from Kursk Oblast amid intensifying Russian offensive
- After 218 days in Russia, Ukraine is ending its Kursk campaign
