Fierce fighting continues in Russia’s Kursk region for a second day following a Ukrainian counter-attack launched on Sunday. Moscow reported using artillery and air power to repel the assault, claiming that Russian troops successfully thwarted an attempt by Ukraine to break through.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the operation, which started in August, had established a crucial buffer zone to prevent Russian forces from deploying to critical areas of the eastern Ukraine front. Ukraine and Russia have each claimed heavy losses, with figures that remain unverified by independent sources.
The Ukrainian military asserted on Monday that around 15,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and 23,000 injured in the ongoing conflict in Kursk over the past five months. Conversely, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukraine had suffered at least 49,010 casualties in the same period.
On Sunday, a Ukrainian assault detachment launched an attack near the village of Berdin, targeting Russian positions with tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. Russian forces reportedly destroyed much of the Ukrainian equipment, continuing to engage in combat throughout the day.
Aerial footage released by Russian state media showed military vehicles under fire in snow-covered terrain. According to Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraine’s top counter-disinformation official, Russian troops in Kursk were taken by surprise, with attacks coming from multiple directions.
Some analysts, such as Yury Podolyaka and Alexander Kots, speculated that the Ukrainian offensive could be a diversionary tactic, suggesting that a more significant attack might be planned elsewhere. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s forces are reported to be struggling with manpower shortages, and have been losing ground in the east as Russian forces advance.
In an unexpected development, Ukrainian forces reportedly clashed with North Korean troops in the Kursk region in November, following an attack launched by Ukrainian troops in August that advanced up to 18 miles into Russian territory. The incident prompted Russia to evacuate nearly 200,000 people from the border region.
On the political front, President Zelensky has indicated that securing peace would require strong security guarantees from the United States under former President Donald Trump. Zelensky expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to influence a ceasefire and potentially halt Russia’s invasion. However, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Ukraine to adopt a “realistic” position on territorial issues, warning that the conflict would not have a “quick and easy” resolution.