Russian war bloggers have reported a recent Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region

Ukrainian forces have initiated a significant offensive in Russia‘s western Kursk region, as reported by Russian military bloggers on Sunday. Following a surprise incursion across the border on August 6, Ukrainian troops have maintained their position against Russian efforts to dislodge them for the past five months.

The bloggers, who generally support Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine but often highlight its shortcomings, noted that the recent Ukrainian attack has forced Russian forces into a defensive posture.

“Despite intense pressure from the adversary, our units are valiantly maintaining their positions,” stated the Operativnye Svodki (Operational Reports) channel. It reported ongoing artillery exchanges and small-arms combat, with Ukraine deploying Western-supplied armored vehicles to transport significant numbers of infantry. The fighting appears to be centered around the town of Bolshoye Soldatskoye, although these reports have not been independently verified by Reuters.

However, prominent blogger Yuri Podolyak suggested that this might be a diversionary tactic by Ukraine, potentially aimed at setting up a strike on Glushkovo, located further west. He advised civilians in Glushkovo and the nearby town of Korenevo to evacuate. Additionally, Ukrainian and Western intelligence estimates indicate that approximately 11,000 troops from North Korea, a Russian ally, have been sent to the Kursk region to bolster Moscow’s military efforts, although Russia has not confirmed their presence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported on Saturday that both Russian and North Korean military forces have sustained significant casualties. He stated, “In the recent clashes near the village of Makhnovka in the Kursk region, the Russian military has lost as many as a battalion of North Korean infantry and Russian paratroopers.” He emphasized the importance of these losses, although he did not provide specific figures, noting that a battalion typically consists of several hundred soldiers.

In a previous response during his annual phone-in last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that Russia would certainly expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk but did not specify a timeline for this action. Notably, Russia’s defense ministry did not include any mention of Kursk in its latest battlefield report released on Sunday.

The unexpected territorial gains made by Ukraine since last August could serve as a crucial leverage point in potential peace negotiations as both parties prepare for discussions this year. Both sides are eager to enhance their strategic positions ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, who has expressed intentions to swiftly conclude the conflict, though he has not detailed how this would be achieved.

By deploying several of its most capable units to the Kursk offensive, Ukraine has inadvertently compromised the defense of its eastern territories, where Russian forces have made their fastest advances since August 2022. The Ukrainian military reported on Saturday that the most intense fighting is occurring near Pokrovsk, a crucial road and rail junction that Russia has been targeting for months. On Sunday, Ukraine’s air defense systems successfully intercepted 61 of the 103 drones launched by Russia during an overnight assault, according to the air force. In response, Russia claimed to have destroyed five Ukrainian drones within its own territory.