**Ukraine’s Military Situation in Kursk Oblast**
U.S. officials have told Bloomberg that Ukraine may only have a few months left to stay in the Kursk Oblast region of Russia. They believe that Ukrainian forces will be forced to retreat or risk being surrounded by Russian troops.
**Reason for Retreat**
The U.S. officials hope that President Volodymyr Zelensky will withdraw from the area to avoid heavy casualties. The reason for this is an ongoing Russian offensive to retake the territory. Ukraine first entered Kursk Oblast in early August, but has since lost over 40% of the territory it initially gained.
**Efforts to Hold Ground**
Despite these losses, one U.S. official told Bloomberg that Ukraine has managed to hold onto the territory longer than expected. The use of long-range missiles into Russia was approved by President Joe Biden, which helped to slow down the Russian counterattacks.
**Zelensky’s Plans**
In September, Zelensky said that Ukraine plans to “indefinitely” hold the seized territories in Kursk Oblast. However, it seems that this plan may not be feasible for much longer.
**Heavy Casualties**
Both Russian and North Korean troops have suffered heavy casualties in the offensive. Over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded so far, according to Zelensky’s latest update.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com