Zelensky Dismisses Putin’s Claims of Ukrainian Encirclement in Kursk as ‘Lies’
In a fresh war of words between Kyiv and Moscow, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically denied claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian troops have been encircled in Russia’s Kursk region. Zelensky accused Putin of deliberate misinformation, aimed at manipulating international perception of the ongoing war.
The dispute arises amid Ukraine’s controversial incursion into Kursk last August—the first military operation on Russian soil by a foreign power since World War II. The offensive was a strategic attempt by Kyiv to divert Russian resources from the eastern front while potentially securing land for negotiations. However, the tide has since turned, with Ukrainian forces reportedly losing ground.
On Thursday, Putin claimed Russian forces had successfully “isolated” Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk, asserting that retreat was impossible. He bluntly declared that Ukrainian troops had only two options: surrender or death. A day later, former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to endorse Putin’s assertion, stating in a TruthSocial post that “thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military.” Trump also claimed to have urged Putin to spare Ukrainian lives, suggesting a potential “massacre” reminiscent of World War II.
Despite these dramatic pronouncements, Ukraine and independent military analysts have strongly contested the claims. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a respected U.S.-based defense think tank, stated that it had found no geolocated evidence supporting Russian assertions of encirclement in Kursk or elsewhere along the front lines. Ukraine’s military echoed this sentiment, labeling Russia’s statements as propaganda designed to pressure Kyiv and its Western allies.
“Reports of the alleged ‘encirclement’ of Ukrainian units are false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation,” the Ukrainian military stated, emphasizing that their forces had successfully withdrawn to better defensive positions in response to Russian advances.
On Saturday, Zelensky reiterated that he had received direct updates from Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and that no Ukrainian forces were trapped. “The units are carrying out their tasks as required and continue to repel Russian and North Korean troops,” Zelensky said.
While Russian military bloggers acknowledge Ukraine’s retreat from key areas in Kursk, including the strategic town of Sudzha, some also dispute Putin’s claim of a full encirclement. The ISW suggests that Putin’s exaggerated statements are a deliberate attempt to shift focus from his ambiguous stance on the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. While Ukraine agreed to the terms in negotiations held in Saudi Arabia, Putin initially indicated agreement before later claiming the deal was “incomplete.”
Analysts argue that Putin is attempting to portray himself as a reasonable statesman open to diplomatic engagement with Trump, while simultaneously justifying Russia’s continued offensive operations. Moscow’s recapture of Sudzha—the largest Ukrainian-held town in Kursk—has further undermined Kyiv’s leverage in any potential peace talks.
The Russian Defense Ministry released footage from Sudzha on Saturday, showing widespread destruction and bodies strewn across the battlefield. The grim imagery underscores the high cost of Ukraine’s Kursk offensive and raises concerns about Kyiv’s ability to sustain operations beyond its borders while facing mounting pressure from Russian advances in Ukraine itself.
As the war grinds on, the competing narratives from Moscow and Kyiv highlight the broader information war at play—one where perception is as critical as battlefield realities.
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Zelensky Dismisses Putin’s Claims of Ukrainian Encirclement in Kursk as ‘Lies’