Ukraine has renewed its attack on Russia’s Kursk region, intensifying the already fierce fighting on this front. The operation, which began with a surprise incursion in August, has caused significant losses on both sides, and reports continue to surface of high casualties, though the exact numbers remain unverified.
Moscow’s response to Ukraine’s latest assault has been swift and forceful, with Russian forces using artillery and air strikes to thwart the Ukrainian advance. On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that they had successfully repelled a breakthrough attempt by Ukraine’s forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, defended the operation, asserting that the incursion had created a vital buffer zone, preventing Russian forces from gaining ground in key areas of eastern Ukraine.
The claims of casualties have been staggering. Ukraine’s military reported on Monday that 15,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and 23,000 injured in Kursk over the past five months. However, Russia’s figures are even higher, with the Russian Defence Ministry stating that Ukraine had lost over 49,000 troops in the region. These figures cannot be independently verified, and the true cost of the fighting remains unclear.
The recent escalation saw a Ukrainian assault detachment attempt to break through near the village of Berdin on Sunday morning. The attack involved two tanks, one military engineering vehicle, and 12 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs). However, Russian forces quickly retaliated, destroying both tanks and the military engineering vehicle, along with seven of the armoured vehicles. The fighting is reported to have continued throughout the day.
Aerial footage released by Russian state news agency RIA depicted the Ukrainian armour advancing through snow-covered countryside, coming under heavy fire and sustaining hits. Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Kovalenko, the country’s top counter disinformation officer, noted that the Russian response to the attack had been a shock. “The Russians in Kursk are experiencing great anxiety because they were attacked from several directions,” Kovalenko stated, suggesting that the operation had caught Moscow off guard.
Some military analysts have speculated that the assault may have been a diversionary tactic, intended to mislead Russian forces into believing a larger offensive was imminent. However, with Ukraine’s forces reportedly struggling with manpower shortages, there is uncertainty over whether the main assault will come from this direction or another.
The fighting in Kursk is part of a broader picture of tension and shifting fronts in eastern Ukraine. In August, Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border attack, advancing up to 30 kilometres into Russian territory. Moscow’s response to this incursion was a large scale evacuation of nearly 200,000 civilians, while President Vladimir Putin condemned the offensive as a “major provocation.” For several weeks, Ukrainian forces held control of over 1,200 square kilometres of Russian territory, including 93 villages, though much of that ground has since been retaken by Russian forces.
In the midst of the ongoing conflict, President Zelensky has suggested that security guarantees offered by the US could lead to a potential resolution of the war. In an interview, he expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with former President Donald Trump, whose influence, Zelensky believes, could help bring an end to the invasion. He suggested that these guarantees, offered in tandem with Europe, could set the stage for negotiations with Russia.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged a more cautious approach, warning that Ukraine must take a “realistic” stance on territorial issues. He added that no “quick and easy” solutions would emerge from the conflict, a sentiment that reflects the broader uncertainty surrounding the war’s eventual outcome.
As the battle for Kursk continues, it’s clear that both sides are digging in for a prolonged fight, with no end in sight. The conflict is far from over, and both Ukraine and Russia are likely to continue suffering heavy losses in the days and weeks ahead.
