The Russian army claims to have regained Southzha. Less than 48 hours after the proposal of cease-fire advanced by Kiev and Washington, the forces of Kremlin they announced that they had resumed the main town of that slice of the Russian region of Kursk of which the Ukrainian soldiers had taken possession last summer. And while Ukrainian forces could now be forced to leave the area completely, and Kiev risks being so private of one possible ‘exchange pawn in negotiations, Putin He states that the question of the “cessation of conflict” is linked to the development of the situation “on the ground”.
Putin’s threats for the Kursk area
“If there is a physical block of Ukrainian forces in the region of Kursknobody can escape. There will be only two options: surrender or die “, thunders the Russian president, then stating that” in these circumstances “would be” very advantageous for the Ukrainian part to guarantee one Truce of at least 30 days».
The situation of the town of Southzha
The news of the conquest of Southzha From the Russian troops comes from one of the belligerent parts and is not currently verifiable. Kiev He says he cannot deny or confirm. But, according to the Cnnthe Institute for the Study of War believes that the images from the ground indicate that the Russian forces have in fact conquered the town close to the border and advance to Zaoleshenkanorth-west.
The difficulty of the Ukrainian army and the Russian advance
The Ukrainian army appears in serious difficulty in the region, and seems to have now lost control of most of those 1,300 square kilometers that it is estimated to have conquered seven months ago. Even 90%says the BBC. The Kremlin claims that his troops are in the “final phase of the operation»To resume control of the entire Oblast of Kursk.
Putin’s visit and Russian strategy
And last night, in an alleged visit to a point of command in the area, Vladimir Putin He appeared in camouflage in front of the propaganda cameras by ordering his generals to regain those territories “in the shortest possible time”. Not exactly a message of peace That of the Russian president, who, however, also seems to be in a hurry.
Ukrainian difficulties and evacuation of the border areas
The situation for Ukrainian soldiers has worsened in the last week. In seven days the Russian troops – accused of being supported by thousands of soldiers North Korean – They took tens of square kilometers of territory. And in the evening the Ukrainian authorities They ordered the evacuation of eight locations near the Russian region “due to the worsening of the operational situation” in the area.
Ukrainian accusations against the Russian army
Kiev accuses the Russian army of having “almost completely destroyed the city of Southzha», The one who supposed to be reconquered by the Moscow military and who counted before the conflict 5,000 inhabitants. And he also accuses him of having shot five soldiers taken prisoner. The complaint according to theAFP It is based on a video, whose authenticity is currently not verified, which seems to show five people in military uniforms that lie on a muddy ground, some with those that could be wounds from the header to the head.
The investigation into war crime
The Ukrainian Manager of Human Rights announced that he asked the Red Cross and toUN to investigate this possible war crime.