Moscow (TDI): The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday said that Ukraine had launched a “counterattack” in the western border region of Kursk, where Kyiv’s forces began a ground offensive last August.
AFP reported that until now it is not clear as how much Ukraine’s forces made penetration in the area, however, certain evidences show that it is a powerful offensive.
“At about 9am Moscow time, in order to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack,” the Russian defence ministry was quoted saying as.
According to the Russian officials, Ukraine with two tanks, a dozen armoured vehicles and a demolition unit headed towards the village of Berdin, about 15 kilometres northeast of Sudzha, in fresh assault.
“The operation to destroy the Ukrainian army formations continues.” Sudzha was captured by Kyiv’s forces shortly after they launched their offensive in August 2024, and they have held on to it since.
Ukrainian officials offered limited information about the offensive. “Russia is getting what it deserves,” Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak was quoted saying as by AFP.
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It further said that the head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, said on Telegram that “defence forces are working” in the area. “In the Kursk region, the Russians are very worried because they were attacked from several directions, and it was a surprise for them,” he said.
Pro-Kremlin military bloggers admitted the Russian army was under pressure in the Kursk region.
“The main events of the next attempted offensive by the Ukrainian army are clearly still ahead of us,” influential pro-Russian blogger Rybar said.
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Kyiv seized dozens of villages in the Kursk region shortly after its incursion started on August 6, 2024, but its advances stalled after Moscow rushed reinforcements to the area, allegedly including thousands of troops from its ally Pyongyang.
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Kyiv’s apparent new offensive comes at a critical moment in the nearly three-year conflict, with US President-elect Donald Trump — who has promised a quick ceasefire — gearing up to take office on January 20, an AFP report said.
Incumbent President Joe Biden’s administration has unveiled almost $6 billion in military and budget aid for Ukraine ahead of the Republican’s inauguration, the report added.
