The Russian Army has initiated a powerful counteroffensive in the Kursk region, an area previously occupied by Ukrainian forces since early August.
Reclaiming Control
Reports from both sides confirm that Russian troops have made gains, successfully breaching Ukrainian defensive lines and reclaiming control over five settlements in the vicinity of Liubímovka. This development has raised concerns as it appears Russian forces have encircled two Ukrainian battalions in the region.
Various sources close to the Russian military, including the unofficial channel of the Russian troop group "Sever," have corroborated these claims, according to Digi24.
Additionally, the Rybar blog, which is aligned with the Russian military, has also reported offensive actions across several fronts in Kursk. According to investigative outlet Agentstvo, this represents the most extensive Russian counterattack in the region since a similar operation occurred last month.
Not Mentioned by Russia
The Ukrainian analysis platform "DeepState," which monitors the war closely, acknowledged the difficult circumstances faced by Ukrainian troops in Kursk. They noted that the situation was particularly dire around Liubímovka, describing the day as "terrible" for Ukrainian forces.
Despite the escalating tensions, the Russian Ministry of Defense has not specifically mentioned Kursk in its public reports. Instead, it focused on claiming the capture of another village in eastern Ukraine, near Pokrovsk, which is critical for Ukrainian logistics.
The Ukrainian military, previously gaining ground in Kursk through a significant attack on August 6, had advanced several dozen kilometers and occupied approximately one hundred settlements.
This offensive capitalized on the limited Russian military presence in the region, which largely consisted of young recruits. Many of these troops were taken prisoner by advancing Ukrainian forces.
Kiev had hoped that their offensive would compel Russia to divert sufficient forces from the eastern front in Donetsk to reinforce Kursk. However, this strategy appears to have backfired, as Russian troops continue to advance rapidly in eastern Ukraine at an unprecedented pace since the invasion began in February 2022.
