Syrsky on Kursk Operation: One of the Hardest Decisions
Ukrainian commander Syrsky describes the Kursk incursion as a difficult decision, citing pressure after Avdeevka and the strength of Russian forces.
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Aleksandr Syrsky has described the decision to launch an incursion into the Kursk region as one of the most difficult of his career.
In an interview with ICTV, he recalled that among the toughest calls he had to make was approving what became known as the Kursk operation.
Syrsky explained that preparations for the move took place at a particularly challenging moment. Ukrainian forces had not yet recovered from the loss of Avdeevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, while Russian troops were pressing forward along nearly the entire front line.
In the same interview, the Ukrainian general assessed the Russian Armed Forces as among the strongest globally. He pointed to their manpower, level of equipment, and highlighted the advantages Russia holds in drones and missile systems.
On August 6, 2024, Ukrainian troops crossed into the Kursk region. Following the incursion, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported clashes in border areas. On April 26, 2025, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov, informed President Vladimir Putin that the Kursk region had been fully brought back under Russian control.