Ukraine has kicked off a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, which borders Russia, and they’re making it clear that Russia is facing the consequences of its actions.
Andrii Kovalenko, who heads the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, mentioned that Ukrainian troops have launched unexpected strikes on Russian positions at various sites in Kursk—this comes just months after they initially moved into the area.
In a brief post on Telegram, Andriy Yermak, who leads the Ukrainian Presidential Office, shared some positive news about Kursk: Russia is getting what it deserves.
Ukraine first entered Kursk back in August and has managed to maintain control over much of what they captured, even with Russian forces and recently arrived North Korean troops trying to push them back across the border. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday, Ukraine’s counterattacks were aimed at halting a Russian offensive.
They claimed both sides had successfully defended against each other’s assaults but noted that Ukrainian attacks involving two tanks and 12 armored vehicles were thwarted near Berdin village, which is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border. The ministry also reported using air power against Ukrainian forces in various locations.
Additionally, a blog linked to Russia’s Northern Group of forces stated that their units were advancing and highlighted ongoing fighting in Sudzha district. They described how enemy forces are operating with mobile groups using armored vehicles while their aviation and artillery engage alongside small arms fire.
This current conflict marks the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign entity since World War II and caught both Russia and Ukraine’s allies off guard when it began. Kyiv’s troops made significant early progress; however, Russia eventually started pushing them back.
Despite these efforts, there hasn’t been much change along the front lines recently. On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the situation as well.
According to a blog update, the AFU has set up some strong electronic warfare systems in the area, which is making it tough for our drones to operate. There are ongoing skirmishes with small arms, and our artillery and tanks are actively engaging the enemy. Another blog echoed this, noting that the offensive kicked off from the Sudzha region.
They mentioned that Ukrainian paratroopers have also landed and intensified fighting in other areas. The enemy seems to be using mine clearance trawls along with tanks and armored vehicles for this offensive. The blog pointed out that the frosty ground is aiding their attack right now, but that’s not expected to last long. They also reported that Russian bombers are in action.
Ukrainian and Western sources estimate that around 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have managed to take control of significant territory after crossing the border. A senior Ukrainian officer shared that heavy bombardment has begun on Sudzha, a town taken by Ukrainians last August.
Colonel Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi from the military commandant’s office in Kursk mentioned there are lots of drones buzzing around and continuous explosions happening, with missiles hitting right in town. He described how Russian forces are methodically tearing down buildings block by block as they prepare for a major assault.
Dmytrashkivskyi also noted that civilians trapped in a boarding school want to evacuate but haven’t received permission from Russia for their transport; there are about 2,000 people stuck there now. Sadly, airstrikes and artillery fire have resulted in around 39 fatalities and over 100 injuries so far.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front in Ukraine, Russian forces claim they’ve made some gains near Kurakhove—a key spot on the Donetsk battlefield. An unofficial monitoring group called DeepState reported similar advancements for Russian troops in Kurakhove and Toretsk too; they even shared video footage of Russian vehicles rolling into one of those villages.