Zaluzhnyi stressed that operations of these kind can be justified if the human losses are acceptable and the objectives limited.
At the same time, he noted that practice has shown an isolated tactical breakthrough on a narrow section of the front does not bring the necessary success for the attacking side.
“The defending troops were able to use both technological and tactical advantages, and eventually not only prevented the tactical breakthrough from turning into operational success, but themselves carried out a tactical advance — also without operational success. I do not know the exact price of these actions, but it is obvious that it was too high,” he wrote.
In October 2024, Zaluzhnyi said that he had not seen the military plans for this operation but believed that “the Ukrainian command had taken all the necessary lines into account.”
“And believe me, it is solely the business of Ukraine’s military-political leadership — how to conduct these operations, how to act, where to advance, and what to do," he added.
"There are people who will evaluate this once the operation is over."
Asked whether this operation was connected to the overall situation at the front, Zaluzhnyi suggested leaving the evaluation of battlefield actions to professionals.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces launched Kursk operation on Aug. 6, 2024. For half a year they held the town of Sudzha, located near the border with Ukraine, as well as controlled significant parts of the Sudzhanskyi, Korenevskyi, and Glushkovskyi districts.
In spring 2025 Russian troops managed to regain control of Sudzha and those districts. Later, they occupied part of Ukraine’s Sumy district, capturing several border villages. But in the summer Ukrainian forces pushed Russian units back and retook part of the lost territory.
On June 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had failed in its plan to launch a major offensive on Sumy Oblast. He also emphasized that the Defense Forces continued active operations as part of the Kursk campaign.
On July 27, Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications reported that units of the Defense Forces’ Kursk grouping liberated the village of Kindrativka in Sumy Oblast from Russian occupation.