In a bold claim shared on social media, former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted, “AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY!” However, this statement has been swiftly debunked by military analysts and those actively involved in the ongoing conflict.

While Trump’s comments seem to directly reference the recent evacuation of around 10,000 Ukrainian troops from a section of battlefield in Russia's Kursk Oblast—representing a critical 250-square-mile area previously held by Ukrainian forces—various experts insist that the narrative of encirclement is simply false.

Kriegsforscher, a Ukrainian drone operator who participated in the fighting, boldly stated, “It’s a lie.” Similarly, Tatarigami, founder of the Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight, confirmed, “There are no encircled troops.”

In August, Ukrainian forces launched a significant offensive in Kursk with the intent of seizing territory that President Volodymyr Zelensky might one day exchange for parts of Ukraine currently held by Russia. For over six months, the Ukrainian troops maintained control of this strategic salient. However, the tide turned dramatically on February 25 when a sophisticated Russian drone unit known as the Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Systems executed an extensive aerial assault targeting Ukrainian supply lines in Sudzha, the operational core of the salient.

Analysts have pointed out that Rubicon employed advanced drone tactics, characterized by intricate ambushes and the use of explosive drones, effectively incapacitating hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles and significantly disrupting their operations.

Just two weeks following these attacks, the remaining Ukrainian troops organized a retreat from Kursk, preserving lives while leaving some crucial heavy equipment behind. Tatarigami described the exit as “generally organized but occasionally chaotic,” and he reaffirmed, 'There is no threat of encirclement, and no evidence suggests otherwise.'

Trump's rhetoric appears to echo a narrative aligned with the Kremlin's stance, potentially impacting ongoing ceasefire negotiations. After a tumultuous two-week period marked by a heated press conference where Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Zelensky for his expression of gratitude regarding U.S. aid, it seems Kyiv and Washington have reconvened to discuss terms for a potential 30-day ceasefire.

As talks unfold, Trump has made headlines by suggesting that informal discussions with Putin are progressing positively, predicting an imminent conclusion to the conflict. Nonetheless, his framing of the situation around the unfounded idea that thousands of Ukrainian troops are trapped in Kursk raises concerns about the accuracy of the information being shared in high-level discussions.

In reality, the Ukrainian forces have already exited the area, contrary to any claims to the contrary. To navigate this complex scenario effectively, Tatarigami wisely advised monitoring reliable intelligence instead of relying on declarations from figures such as Putin. As the situation continues to evolve, the importance of verified information remains paramount in this unpredictable conflict.