Ukraine has launched a new military operation in the Kursk region of western Russia, an area where Russian forces have been struggling to eject Ukrainian troops for the past five months. Russian Ministry of Defence reported on Sunday that its forces had successfully repelled two Ukrainian attacks near the village of Berdin, claiming to have beaten back Ukrainian forces that included tanks, mine-clearing vehicles, and armored combat vehicles. However, Russian military bloggers have reported fierce clashes and some suggested that Russian forces were facing heavy pressure in the region.
Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that fighting had been intense, with 42 combat engagements occurring on Sunday, and 12 ongoing at the time. Ukraine’s official response did not provide specific details on the operation, but Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, shared an optimistic message on Telegram, calling it “good news” and stating: “Russia is getting what it deserves.”
Strategic Importance of Kursk
This new offensive is seen as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to regain territory in the Kursk region, which it had lost to Russian forces in the initial stages of the war. Ukraine had previously launched a cross-border raid into Kursk last August, but Russia has since managed to recapture only about 40% of lost territory. Zelenskyy also noted that in battles near the Kursk village of Makhnovka, the Russian army had suffered significant losses, including up to a battalion of North Korean infantry and Russian paratroopers.
The Offensive comes as both sides anticipate shifts in international diplomacy, particularly with US President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House on January 20. Zelenskyy has hinted that land around Kursk could be part of any future peace talks, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently remarked that Ukraine’s position in Kursk will be “important” for future negotiations.
Zelenskyy has indicated that Ukraine’s security guarantees in any potential peace agreement would only be credible if provided by the United States, and he expressed hope for a meeting with Trump following his inauguration. The Ukrainian president also reiterated his call for Ukraine’s eventual membership in NATO, arguing that Ukraine is counting on the US to help end Russia’s war and prevent further Russian escalation in Europe.
Escalation of Attacks and Casualties
As fighting intensifies in Kursk, areas of Ukraine have also been under heavy fire. Russian shelling of the Ukrainian city of Nikopol, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, left one person dead and another wounded on Sunday. In Kherson, a city downstream along the Dnipro River, at least six people were injured in similar attacks. Additionally, Moscow launched 103 drones into Ukraine overnight, with Ukraine’s air force claiming to have destroyed 61 of them, while 42 ors were likely downed by electronic jamming. Russia’s Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, reported the destruction of 61 Ukrainian drones in western Russia, though no casualties were reported in drone incidents.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also reported loud explosions near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant on Sunday, coinciding with reports of a drone attack on the plant’s training center. IAEA has yet to confirm any impact, but re were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to nuclear equipment.
Environmental Impact of Russian Oil Spill in Black Sea
Meanwhile, environmental concerns continue to grow following last month’s Russian oil tanker spill in the Black Sea. The spill, which occurred on December 15, when two Russian tankers were caught in a storm off Kerch Strait, has caused significant ecological damage. One of the tankers sank, while or ran aground, releasing around 2,400 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into surrounding waters.
Since the spill, authorities have been racing to contain the disaster, while dolphin rescue organizations report alarming figures. Delfa Centre, a Russian organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dolphins, announced on Sunday that it has recorded 61 dead cetaceans, including dolphins, whales, and porpoises, as a result of oil contamination.
International Reactions and Continuing Conflict
As the conflict continues to escalate, international reactions have focused on both military and humanitarian aspects of the crisis. The United States and or Western allies have been providing continued military and financial support to Ukraine, while Moscow has stepped up its defensive measures. Fighting in Kursk is part of a broader struggle for territorial control in the ongoing war, which has entered its second year, with no clear end in sight.
As Ukraine looks to maintain momentum in its counteroffensive, and with diplomatic tensions rising ahead of the US presidential inauguration, the coming weeks may prove pivotal for both sides in shaping the course of war and potential peace negotiations. The outcome of battles in Kursk, combined with broader international developments, will likely play a critical role in the region’s future stability.
- Ukraine war briefing: Fierce fighting reported in Russia’s Kursk region amid new Ukrainian offensive The Guardian
- Russia ‘getting what it deserves,’ Ukraine says, after launching a counterattack in border region CNN
- On The Same Day On The Same Snowy Battlefield, Russia And Ukraine Both Launch Offensives Forbes
