About Kursk, I claim only that this counter-offensive was a need at the moment and that no army would walk away from a weak spot in the front where there is the possibility of a breakthrough. You can say Ukraine has lost too much, but we do not know the real figures, only the data from videos that we can geolocate with satellites images. I only know that Russia at its ceiling of war (production 24/7) can not break through, they fight like a snail that will take its army over 80 years to reach Kyiv. What ever comes from those so-called sources claiming Russia doing swell is a lie told too us from the Tzars time. What about Ukraine, then? Apart from the fronts where they keep ... for reasons any state in wartime including ours have done. But economical, we can verify the data that we can not from Russia.
The Kursk retreat was planned, I think it was part of the strategy of Ukraine to play this card
. Ukraine has told the US a couple of days ago ceasefire, and we are prepared to give up Kursk why else they could come with a quick result in Riyadh. Other thing is, have you ever looked at the map of Kursk? Do you really think you can defend tree lines and open fields? No so the main reason for this retreat, but it has got its use this occupation of a part of Russia it did divert troops, supply and equipment meant for other parts of the front. It took the Russian more than a half year to get it back, so yes there is a victory in this counteroffensive.