Ukraine reports that its forces are undertaking ‘new offensive operations’ in the Kursk region of Russia

On Tuesday, Ukraine announced that its military was “initiating new offensive actions” in the western Kursk region of Russia, marking its first significant comments following reports of a renewed Ukrainian advance in the area two days prior. Ukraine initially captured a portion of the Kursk region during a surprise operation last August and has maintained control over that territory for five months, despite some losses. The Russian defense ministry reported on Sunday that Kyiv had initiated a new counter-offensive.

Ukraine’s general staff, which typically restricts information for operational security, stated that Ukrainian forces had targeted a Russian command post near the settlement of Belaya in the Kursk region. The military indicated that this strike, along with other recent operations, was coordinated with ground forces that are “currently initiating new offensive operations” against Russian troops.

Subsequently, the military revised its Telegram statement, removing any reference to a new attack and substituting it with the more ambiguous term “combat operations,” without providing further clarification. The Russian defense ministry, which has described the Ukrainian counter-offensive as poorly executed in recent days, claimed that its forces had conducted strikes against Ukrainian units in the Kursk region. It detailed six locations where it asserted its troops had successfully engaged Ukrainian brigades, as well as seven additional sites, including one on the Ukrainian side of the border, where strikes on Ukrainian personnel and equipment were reported.

The noticeable increase in hostilities in the Kursk region occurs at a pivotal moment for Ukraine, whose forces, outnumbered and outgunned, are finding it challenging to fend off Russian advances in the east. Securing and maintaining a portion of Russian territory in the Kursk area has provided Ukraine with leverage in potential peace negotiations, as both parties aim to enhance their positions on the battlefield ahead of Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House.

The president-elect, set to take office on January 20, has consistently stated his intention to swiftly conclude the nearly three-year conflict, though he has not specified how he plans to achieve this. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that geolocated footage released over the weekend indicated recent Ukrainian progress in three locations northeast of Sudzha. Meanwhile, Russian forces are attempting to launch attacks in other parts of the region, with military bloggers from Russia noting clashes in Malaya Loknya, located northwest of Sudzha.

Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region has not come without significant costs. By late 2024, Russian forces had advanced in eastern Ukraine at their fastest rate since 2022, currently controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Both Western and Ukrainian sources estimate that around 11,000 troops from North Korea, an ally of Russia, are engaged alongside Russian forces in the area, although Russia has not confirmed their involvement.

Ukraine and the United States report substantial casualties, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating on Monday that over 1,000 North Koreans have been killed or wounded. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s special forces claimed to have killed 13 North Korean soldiers, sharing images on Telegram that they asserted depicted the soldiers’ bodies and identification documents. In a routine update, Kyiv’s general staff reported that there had been 27 Russian attacks in the Kursk region by Tuesday afternoon.