Kursk Gambit: How Ukraine’s ambitious attack has led it to the brink of military disaster

"While Ukraine was making strides in Kursk Region, last month, Russian forces were intensifying their advance in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Reports from Russian military correspondents and Western journalists indicate that the Ukrainian army has lost

numerous settlements in recent weeks, with some surrendered almost without resistance.
Military correspondent Yuri Kotenok noted that in recent weeks Russian forces have captured several villages, including the city of Novogrodovka, which had a population of around 15,000 before the conflict began. Fighting is now focused in the city of Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhinsk) and near Selidovo. Overall, Ukraine lost more than 400 square kilometers just in August, exceeding the territorial advancements made by Russian forces throughout most of 2023. Correspondent Mikhail Zvinchuk characterized the situation as an “operational crisis” for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), while referring to the achievements of the Russian military as “significant.” RT