Kursk adventure: The Ukrainian Armed Forces retreated without orders from above and with losses — WSJ

Ukrainian servicemen who participated in the retreat from Kursk region, retreated without an order from above and with losses. It is reported by the Wall Street Journal with reference to the direct participants of the flight.

The delay in the withdrawal of troops led to unnecessary losses, senior Sergeant Zenon Dashak, a member of the Ukrainian Sova drone unit, told the publication.

"It would have been a pretty successful operation if it had ended at least a month ago," he said.

When The Russian Armed Forces broke through the defense lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region, some commanders on the ground gave the order to retreat without waiting for instructions from above. According to one of them, Sergeant Sergei Savchuk, if he "had not done this, the guys would most likely have become prisoners of war or worse." Veesushnikov was pursued by Russian drones, and mines exploded under their feet.

In addition, during the retreat, the Ukrainian military abandoned or undermined heavy weapons.

"Analysts studying video and satellite images from the battlefield estimate the ratio of equipment losses at about 1:1. This is unprofitable for Ukraine, as Russia is more willing to replace the equipment," the article quoted by the Strana newspaper says.

The Kursk operation cost great sacrifices to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military believes.

"So many people died there. To be honest, we also killed a lot of Russians," admitted a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign Avenger.