The Duran Podcast - Frontline update, Kursk cauldron and Sumy buffer w/ Patrick Lancaster

Episode Date: March 21, 2025

Frontline update, Kursk cauldron and Sumy buffer w/ Patrick Lancaster

I am here with Patrick Lancaster. Patrick, welcome to the Duran once again. It's great to have you with us. Before we get started, talking about what's going on on the front lines, where can people follow your work? Hi, Alex. Thanks for having me again. It's always great to be on with you guys to help each other show the world with anachnacchian in the Western mainstream media. Yeah, and of course, people can find the bulk of my big reports on the United States on.

my YouTube channel, Patrick Lancaster, and my new outlet platform that gets a lot of more of my journalism work that doesn't reach YouTube is Substack. My free blog on Substack,

that's where so much more goes. So if anybody wants to get the most out of my work, they've got to subscribe to my substack for sure. Free blog. Of course, there's an option for $8 a month, but You just got to go and get at least a free subscription there.

And, of course, for those who don't know me, I've been covered in the Ukraine war since 2014. And, of course, now that, you know, for the last three years, the Russia has been in it. And I basically hit every front line that the news is developing in the war. And right now I'm in the... Kursk region near the front line. And I've been documenting the newest developments that have been happening here with Russia, just taking so much territory back from Ukraine.

Okay. So the obvious question, Patrick, but by the way, I will have all of your information linked in the description box down below and as a pin comment as well as for where people can follow your work. But the obvious question to ask you is, what is the situation in Kersk? Well, just after the first week of this month, I believe on the 8th, Russian forces conducted a really kind of unbelievable operation where they tunneled underneath Ukrainian's defensive lines. They used gas pipes, and they literally hundreds came out on the other side of the Ukrainian defensive lines. offensive lines just popped up out of nowhere and made the Ukrainian lines just crumble. And the Ukrainian soldiers just started retreating in masses. And unfortunately, destroying a lot as they left, but they had also been doing that for seven months.

But so Russia just immediately after this operation commenced, they started just taking massive amounts of territory from Ukraine, back from Ukraine, and almost completely encircling a huge amount. There was different statements made about were they encircled, were they not, how many were encircled, how many weren't in things. like this. I can't say exactly what the amount of people is Ukrainian soldiers that were encircled, but I can say what the situation has been this week that I've been here is there's been small pockets of Ukrainian soldiers

that you could say encircled, but the real thing is they were hiding and still are hiding. And every day, Ukrainian soldiers have been being taken a captive by Russian forces, as Russian forces have just

been plowing over all of their defense lines and taking all of this territory back. I mean, we're talking about the Ukrainian stronghold, former stronghold in the cursed region of

Susha and almost all of the towns near it, and basically the only territory still controlled by Ukraine, if you can even call it, that is by the border. And the streets,

have just been littered with Ukrainian soldiers. I've seen just so many Ukrainian soldiers. And unfortunately, a lot of civilians as well. You know, there's been a lot of war crimes. I believe last time I was on, we talked about how I found a group of civilians that were clearly hiding in a bomb shelter during the fighting. And this was in a village that had just been changed hands. just day of prior Russian forces took control the village and

we found many civilians basically executed by with a grenade. We're talking elderly women, elderly men and just really just horrible war crimes. But the fact is now

all the villages are just left at ruins as Ukrainian forces have been evacuating. I mean just I'm talking pure destruction and death. and death. One soldier commented into me how much of a

smelly summer it's going to be in the Kursk region because all of these buildings are just completely destroyed and there's hundreds, if not thousands, of bodies stuck under rubble both soldiers and civilians.

And so the fact the situation on the ground is in curse. I mean, it's pretty much over. Yeah, there's a little sliver on the border like that. But the major, as far as I'm told, the major attacks, rocket attacks are all being launched from the Sumi region now. They're not even launching these rocket attacks from Kursk region.

It's coming over the Sumi Kursk border. The word is that they're still launching kamikaze and drones. attacks from on the border within the territory of Kursk. But, I mean, this is almost over. I mean, I've heard estimates another week. The last Ukrainian soldier will be kicked out of the Kersk region. I've heard a month. But, I mean, the war in Kursk, you could pretty much say, compared to what it was and what

it is in other regions, is pretty much over here for now in Kursk. And I would not be surprised to see a big reorganization of forces directed on another front and the push to just continue with the taking of territory from Ukraine. And of course, we've been seeing almost on every front Russia taking territory in the last week's in her son territory in the, islands in the river bed. Zaporosian done yet small villages. Her son rumors that some parts

of the little bit that's left have been taken, but nothing full yet. But yeah, so that's the situation here in Kursk. Every day there are civilians evacuated from the

front line by the Russian army. I was just an hour ago is with the military police and emergency services of Russia that went into Susia to evacuate civilians. Now, and the civilians say, well, why do I want to evacuate? You're already here. We made it. And unfortunately, what the soldiers are answering is, yeah, well, you made it through the

time when Ukraine was here because we were trying not to shell civilians. But now that Russian forces have taken control again, Ukraine is just going to be hammering the civilian areas. So, yeah, that's the situation right now in Kursk. So Trump put a number with Kursk of the troops that are surrounded the other day at 2,500. Could that number correlate to the pockets of Ukraine soldiers that are trapped? that you're talking about, Patrick, or is that number, does that seem too high? Or you just, you don't know. You can't tell.

You know, there's a level of it that I don't know. But from what I've heard, it's a totally incorrect statement. I think he was just misinformed on the situation on the ground because it was more of, I mean, maybe the numbers, what's actually circled and how many have been captured and killed, you know, definitely is about. if you include how many killed in this last week, is definitely above 2000. But as far as fully encircled, it just doesn't seem realistic to me from what I've seen and what I've heard.

But again, I'm not a military commander on the ground. I'm just here doing the best as I can to try to document what the real situation is. Have you heard about the soldiers making it out of Kursk by foot? Because there have been some reports from Western media saying that a lot of the Ukrainian soldiers made it out, but on foot from the region to Sumi. Well, yeah, from what I understand, I mean, when these lines collapsed, it was total panic and chaos from the Ukrainian forces. And some made it out by foot, some in vehicles. and others just are still hiding in basements.

I mean, all of the territory has not been cleared yet. I've been going with Russian forces every day. And, I mean, it's still a tense situation in a lot of these areas. I mean, you know, I was strictly told, you know, you cannot go in buildings right now because there could be Ukrainian forces in some of the buildings. So, I mean, it's a really, you know, dangerous situation since it happened so quick. And I mean, they're taking, I've seen prisoners of war that almost every day being marched back from the line. And, you know, I make it a point not to film or interview any prisoners of war.

I don't make it a spectacle out of prisoners of war on any side. You know, do my best to go with the Geneva Convention to the fullest of my ability. but it's happening. I've seen the prisoners of war getting marched back from the front every day. Have you heard anything about the reports from Ria Novosti, which claim 30 NATO officials in Kursk? Have you heard anything from any soldiers or commanders in the Kersk region, Russian, talking about NATO forces or NATO officials in the region? Not particularly NATO officials or anything like this, but I did have several conversations with Russian soldiers about the reality of foreign fighters, mercenaries, volunteers, whatever you want to call them. They call them mercenaries on the ground and what happens when they're taking captive.

and, you know, because this is also kind of pushed forward with the statements from Vladimir Putin saying that he commented that foreign mercenaries are not covered under the Geneva Convention and will not get the rights of a juvenile convention. And I spoke to these soldiers and they said, yeah, we're willing to take prisoners of war that are Ukrainians, but not interested in taking a foreign mercenary prisoner. of war. And this also comes on the heels of just earlier this month, a British mercenary, volunteer, whatever you want to call it, a soldier that was fighting for Ukraine in the Kersk region, I believe it was in November was captured. At the beginning of this month, his trial finished, and he was sentenced to 19 years, for I believe the charge was terrorism along those lines against Russia. So it seems like, Russia is not playing around with prisoners, foreign mercenaries.

So, I mean, it really looks like, you know, death are jail for any foreign mercenaries that come to fight against Russia. What have you heard about what's happening in Sumi, Patrick? Is Russia going to create a type of buffer zone in Sumi? Have they already started to operate out of Sumi? what's the situation like in Sumi on the Ukraine side of the border? Well, yes. There's definitely Russian soldiers in Sumi Ukraine controlling territory. It does make sense that they would want to make a buffer zone so they don't have some events happen like it did in August again in Kursk region. I've heard rumors of specifically using the words buffer zone.

And I believe it was February 20th when Moscow stated that Russia was in the Sumi region. And of course, for weeks, Ukraine and Ukrainian media denied it. And then finally, Ukraine at the beginning of the month came out and admitted that Russian forces were in Sumi. but how fast they're moving. Since then, since they admitted they were, there's definitely been more territory taken. As I understand, it's not a huge amount, kind of symbolic maybe at this point,

but steadily growing. And this makes it not seven regions that have fighting in them between Russia and Ukraine. Now there's eight. Assuming it's the eighth region, and this is on top of the four regions that Russia says is Russia, Ukraine says it's Ukraine, which is, of course, Daniaz, Zaporosia, her son, and Lugansk, which is the disputed zones. But now we've got fighting on the Harkov region, of course, or was there a few weeks ago, now, Sumi, Kursk, and of course, Bograd.

And just yesterday, and the day before, well, the day before it started a Ukrainian offensive. attempted Ukrainian offensive into the Belgarh region, which was reportedly defeated and failed, which in that operation, Russia purportedly shot down a U.S. supplied F-16 over the Sumi region just across the border that was supporting that operation. And of course in, I believe February, Russia, well, starting in February, Russia made a lot of gains in the Harkov region going across the Oxal River in pontoon boats on pontoons and in rubber boats and putting up firing in defensive positions on the other side of the river. So, yeah, there's eight regions of fighting now, and all eight have either been confirmed Russia is taking territory. And the only one that's a little bit up in the air is Lugansk. But the rest, no question that Russia is taking territory in the last week, Sam.

What's happening in the South in the Zaporoje-Herson direction? Yvon Zelensky said the other day that Russia's preparing some sort of big attack in the the south. We are getting reports that there are a lot of forces, Russian forces in that area. And it makes sense that that's going to be Russia's next big push. Now, is that really what's going to happen? Or maybe it's a little bit of, you know, trickery, who knows? But it makes sense that that would be the next big attack, because that's where Russia is lacking the most in territory and will have the most difficult time taking territory because the front line is literally a carved in the geography of the regions.

We're talking about the river and riverbed and empty reservoir there. And the last I heard is from the governor of the Herson region as far as territory stated that all of the islands in the river bed and river had been taking control of by Russian forces. And if Russia is preparing a large assault, it would make sense that it would be in the Herson area and, for that matter, a Zaporosia area. And of course, I'll go down there if it happens. Okay. Just a final question, Patrick, all the diplomacy that has been taking place over the past couple of weeks. Even the phone call between Trump and Putin. You also had a phone call the other day between Zelensky and Trump. Are the military, are the command, the soldiers, are they getting news

of what's happening with the diplomacy? Yeah, they are and they're hoping peace comes because everybody wants peace. They want people to stop dying as well. They want to go home. But You know, they're definitely liking the idea of this new ceasefire, because if they see anything that leads to the U.S. denying of lethal aid or weapons to Ukraine is a good thing, especially if it entails them not having to stop the fight, because they understand if United States is not supplying this lethal aid and weapons to Ukraine, the war is not going to last that much longer. Ukraine is just not going to be able to defend itself

and that's what is going to stop the war. I mean, like Trump told Zlinitsky, you know, they would have been defeated within days, if not weeks, after February of 2022 and that you know it took Trump

needing to tell Zonitki he's losing and he would lose completely without U.S. help. So yeah, Russian soldiers are liking what's happening as far as the stoppage of aid

to Ukraine. Let me just ask you one more question, Patrick. When Trump spoke with Zelensky Zelensky made a request for Patriot missile systems. Do you know what the situation is like in Ukraine with air defense and with patriots? Trump said that he's going to ask European partners for patriots. He says the U.S. is not the area or he implied that the U.S. is not going to be giving over any

Patriot systems. He's going to ask the Europeans, which is telling in and of itself. But what's the situation like? Do you have any idea with air defense in Ukraine? Well, I believe just the other day, there was a comment from, Ukrainian politician. I can't remember exactly who, but there is a comment, something like Ukraine is shooting down most of their own aircraft.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, she made that comment. Yeah. So, yeah, beyond that, you know, I'm not, that's not really my sphere that far into it. But, I mean, as far as the air goes, the majority of this war is fought in the air. And it's not fought in, you know, manned aircraft. It's the drones. I mean, it's such a just horrible situation every day being on the front

and not being able to protect yourself. Because in the old days of the war, I used to be able to say, okay, there's a tree here, a wall here, stone here, and the threats in this direction. So I know if I position myself like this, I'll have a better chance of making it if there's an incoming. But now you don't have any control. I mean, you never know which direction it's going to come from.

I mean, just the drone warfare is just incredibly intense now. And so many people are that, so many journalists have been killed. Civilians. It's just a horrible situation. Okay, Patrick, we will leave it there. Is there anything else you would like to tell our viewers? Just, you know, my normal spiel, you know, don't. Don't just be led like sheep by the mainstream media.

Think outside the box. Don't get as much many different perspectives as possible. Don't just watch our reports. Watch reports on the other side of the perspective. You know, just think for yourself and then come up with your own opinion. Don't make, let someone, you know, force an opinion down your throat. Get as much information from as many perspectives as possible. Patrick Larncaster, thank you once again for joining us on the Duran.

Where can people find you? Yeah, definitely on my YouTube channel, Patrick Lancaster, and most of all, you got to go and subscribe to my substack. It's where so much more information, long-form articles, short clips, and just so much more is going. So it's a must. I will have those links in the description box down below and as a pinned comment as well. So definitely recommend following Patrick Lankster.

Castor. Take care of Patrick. All right. You too, Alice. Thanks for having me on. It's been great.