KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top military commander says his forces now control 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russia’s neighboring Kursk region, the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of the lightning incursion that has embarrassed the Kremlin.

Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi made the statement in a video posted Monday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel. In the video, he briefed the president on the front-line situation.

“The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control,” Syrskyi said.

Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to the surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.

  • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    They’ve crippled the only gas line to the EU and annexed a shit ton of land. I’d say that payoff was huge.

    • Ranvier@sopuli.xyz
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      3 months ago

      That gas line goes right into Ukraine, they could have blown it up anytime they wanted safely in their own territory. So I’m not sure that makes much sense. They have not done this previously to avoid angering EU allies funding them, as some still rely on it.

      I think more likely explanations are it helps make it easier to strike and and shut down a very important rail route for Russian re supply, it brings the war to the Russian people in a way they can’t ignore, makes Putin look weak, draws Russian troops away from other fronts, and if the land is held gives Ukraine a bargaining chip in any future negotiations with Russia.

      • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Blowing it up on their side leaves them with massive environmental damage, possible fire, and cleanup.

        Doing it this way avoids that.

        Fuck any country who gets gas from Russia. You’ve had two years to figure shit out. Tough titty.

      • TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Yep. And blew up what I gather are the two main buildings that housed the controls from the satellite photos I saw

        • originalfrozenbanana@lemm.ee
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          3 months ago

          Oh I didn’t know that. The Ukrainians and Russians have more or less mutually agreed not to mess with the gas supply thus far, since it benefits them both