"There was no choice": Ukraine's army chief explains why Kursk operation was launched

He shared his thoughts in an interview with Le Monde.

Syrskyi explained that he had no choice but to carry out the operation. 

"I had to conduct this operation. It was necessary to disrupt the offensive on Kharkiv, ease the pressure on all fronts, and prevent a new front from opening on Sumy. So, I decided to strike where Russia had a weak point, with very few soldiers guarding the border," he said.

He also believes that the operation helped weaken Russia's offensive potential by reducing the intensity of their attacks, "except for in Pokrovsk and Kurakhove."

• On December 14, Ukrainian MP and SBU Colonel Roman Kostenko stated that Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region are holding back 50,000–60,000 Russian troops.
• The Economist reports that as of December 2024, the Ukrainian army has lost about half of its previously controlled territories in the Kursk region.