Russian disinformation fuels false claims of Ukraine’s encirclement in Kursk — military observer

Military and political observer Oleksandr Kovalenko writes on his Telegram channel that encirclement can be:

• Operational, when a unit is cut off from supply lines but retains mobility.
• Tactical, when a unit is completely isolated with no maneuverability.

Currently, Ukrainian forces in Kursk are not encircled. The N-07 highway is contested but not physically blocked, allowing movement and resupply.

Battlefield situation

According to the observer:

• Russia has concentrated 60,000 troops, including North Korean reinforcements.
• Ukrainian forces in the area number around 10,000, creating a 6:1 force ratio (based on Western media reports and Russian “military bloggers,” although it is unclear how accurate these numbers are).
• Putin has set a May 9 deadline for Russian forces to take control of Kursk, coinciding with delays in U.S. military aid.
• Ukraine is working to offset these delays with increased European military support.

Russian fire control over a road makes logistics difficult but does not prevent withdrawal or reinforcements. Using the same logic, several other contested locations would be classified as “encircled,” which is not the case.

While the situation remains challenging, it is far from the catastrophe painted by some reports. The misuse of the term "encirclement" only fuels Russian disinformation, the observer concluded.

• There is no encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, and the command is not planning their withdrawal at the moment, according to media reports.