Ukraine Launches Counterattack in Russian Border Region of Kursk
Ukraine has launched a surprise counterattack against Russian forces in the Kursk region, a move that has left Moscow scrambling to respond. The Ukrainian military, backed by intelligence from Western sources, has launched attacks on multiple front lines, pushing Russian forces back and inflicting significant casualties, according to reports from both sides.
The first signs of the counterattack emerged on Sunday, as the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, posted a message on Telegram, stating that “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves.”
Ukraine’s military, which had been holding onto territory in the region since August, launched a series of attacks on Sunday, including one that involved two tanks and 12 armored vehicles near the village of Berdin. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces, including a battalion of North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers, had been defeated, but Ukrainian sources disputed these claims.
The clashes have highlighted the ongoing conflict in the region, which has seen Russian and North Korean forces attempt to push Ukrainian units back across the border. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of using the North Korean military to prop up its own forces, and has hinted that the North Koreans may be facing severe losses.
The Russian military has responded to the counterattack, with a blog associated with the Northern Group of forces reporting that its units were moving forward, supported by air power and artillery. However, a senior Ukrainian officer claimed that the Russian military was struggling to make progress due to the harsh weather conditions and the use of powerful radio electronic warfare systems by Ukrainian forces.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the international community remains divided in its assessment of the situation. The United States has thus far avoided direct involvement in the conflict, with incoming President Donald Trump pledging to end the war “in 24 hours,” but not specifying how. Ukraine’s military has also received limited support from the West, with some suggesting that incidents such as this may be an attempt to improve Ukraine’s bargaining power in any future ceasefire negotiations.