Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region
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A Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian position in Kursk [File: Russian Ministry of Defence Press Service via AP]
Ukraine has initiated a fresh offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, marking a new phase in the ongoing conflict. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, efforts to neutralize the Ukrainian attack groups are currently underway. Ukrainian officials have also suggested that an operation is in progress, although further details have not yet been confirmed.
This latest offensive follows a series of military engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russia in the Kursk area. Ukraine initially launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August of the previous year, seizing a significant portion of territory. However, in the months since, Russian forces have made substantial gains, pushing Ukrainian troops back but failing to fully expel them from the region.
On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense posted a statement on Telegram detailing the situation. It claimed that Ukraine had launched a counter-offensive at around 9 am Moscow time, aimed at halting Russia’s advance in the Kursk direction. According to the statement, the assault was led by two tanks, a counter-obstacle vehicle, and 12 armored fighting vehicles.
Russian military bloggers provided more details, stating that the Ukrainian attack was launched from their base at Sudzha, targeting the villages of Berdin and Bolshoye Soldatskoye, which lies along the route to the city of Kursk. These villages are strategically significant, as they sit on the road leading to the heart of the Kursk region. Despite the military action, it is still unclear whether the offensive will result in any major changes along the frontlines.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, shared a message of optimism, stating that there was “good news from Kursk” and implying that Russia was receiving the consequences of its actions. Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraine’s top counter-disinformation official, added that the Russians in the Kursk region were “experiencing great anxiety” due to the unexpected nature of the attacks, which came from multiple directions.
The scale of the current offensive remains uncertain, and some analysts suggest that it may be a diversionary tactic. Russian military bloggers, such as Yury Podolyaka, speculated that this maneuver could be designed to draw Russian forces away from other key areas. Another blogger, Alexander Kots, hinted that the main thrust of the Ukrainian operation might be directed elsewhere, though no clear evidence has emerged to support this.
The situation is further complicated by reports of manpower shortages within Ukrainian forces. Over recent months, Ukraine has been losing ground in the east of the country as Russian troops continue to make significant advances. Despite these setbacks, Ukraine is pressing on with its counterattacks, hoping to regain momentum.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia had launched another drone attack overnight, targeting various regions within Ukraine. The Ukrainian military claimed to have intercepted 61 drones over Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyy. Although no direct hits were recorded, some damage was reported in Kharkiv Region, where a few houses were struck by intercepted drones.
The ongoing conflict in the Kursk region also saw the involvement of North Korean troops in November, according to Ukraine. The North Koreans were reportedly engaged in combat after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack across the border, advancing up to 18 miles into Russian territory. Moscow responded by evacuating nearly 200,000 people from areas along the border, while President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian offensive as a “major provocation.”
Despite the challenges, Ukraine’s top commander claimed to have gained control of over 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory and 93 villages in the aftermath of the attack. However, some of the territory previously captured by Ukrainian forces has since been regained by Russia.
The conflict in the Kursk region continues to evolve, with both sides vying for control of strategic locations. The outcome of Ukraine’s latest offensive remains uncertain, but it highlights the ongoing volatility and the high stakes of the war, with both countries aiming to secure territorial gains as the fighting continues.
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