Ukrainian troops describe scenes from Kursk, Russia, as 'horror movie'

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Russia's Kursk region have described scenes "like a horror movie" as they retreat from the front lines.

The BBC writes that it has received various statements from Ukrainian troops, who indicate a "catastrophic" withdrawal in the face of heavy fire, columns of destroyed military equipment and continuous attacks from swarms of Russian drones, reports the Telegraph.

The soldiers, who spoke on social media, were given pseudonyms to protect their identities.

Some declared a "collapse" after Ukraine lost Sudzha, its largest city.

On March 9, “Volodymyr” sent a telegram to the BBC saying that he was still in Sudzha, where there was “panic and collapse of the front.”

Ukrainian troops "are trying to leave – columns of troops and equipment. Some of them are being burned by Russian drones on the road. It is impossible to leave during the day."

The movement of people, logistics, and equipment was reliant on a main road between Sudzha and the Sumy region of Ukraine.

Volodymyr said it was possible to travel on that road relatively safely a month ago.

But since March 9, it was "all under the control of enemy fire... In a minute you can see two to three drones. That's a lot," he said.

At the time of writing, shortly before Russia retook Sudzha, Volodymyr said Ukrainian forces were being “hit” from three sides.

Meanwhile, in social media posts on March 11-12, another soldier, “Dmytro,” compared the withdrawal to “a scene from a horror movie.”

"The streets are filled with hundreds of destroyed cars, armored vehicles... There are many injured and dead."

Vehicles were often shot down by multiple drones, he said.

He described his narrow escape when the car he was traveling in became stuck.

He and his fellow soldiers were trying to free the vehicle when they were targeted by another drone.

He did not hit the vehicle, but injured one of his friends. He said they had to hide in a forest for two hours before being rescued.

Military experts estimate that Russia had amassed a force of up to 70,000 troops to retake Kursk – including around 12,000 North Koreans.

Russia had also sent its best drone units to the front and used kamikaze variants.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, insists that Ukrainian forces have withdrawn to "more favorable positions", remain in Kursk and will do so "for as long as necessary".

He said Russia had suffered more than 50,000 casualties during the operation – including those killed, wounded or captured.

However, any hopes that Ukraine would be able to trade the Kursk territory for some of its own have been significantly diminished.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed the Kursk operation had "fulfilled its task" by forcing Russia to withdraw troops from the east and ease pressure on Pokrovsk. /Telegraph/