Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday (Monday AEDT), marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Video footage posted on X.com showed Ukrainian armoured columns advancing through snowy terrain towards Bolshoe Soldatskoe, a village near the Ukrainian-held Russian town of Sudzha.
Ukrainian officials confirmed the offensive, with reports of fierce combat and significant troop movements. The General Staff of Ukraine stated that 42 combat clashes occurred in the Kursk area on Sunday, with 12 still ongoing.
There are unverified reports of Ukrainian troops entering the Russian hamlets of Berdin and Novosotnitskii. Ukrainian sappers reportedly cleared mines overnight, while advanced electronic countermeasures disrupted Russian drone operations.
Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, celebrated the operation’s apparent success, posting on Telegram, "Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves." Andriy Kovalenko of Ukraine’s national security and defence council also highlighted the operation’s unexpected nature, describing it as a multi-front attack that caught Russian forces off guard.
This operation comes as geopolitical tensions rise ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the United States presidency on 20 January, potentially reshaping Western support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has hinted that territorial control in Kursk could play a role in future peace negotiations. Currently, Ukraine holds 585 square kilometres of Russian territory.
Russia has shown no signs of halting its campaign, with President Vladimir Putin maintaining territorial demands, including regions annexed in 2022. Inside Ukraine, Russian forces have advanced at their fastest pace since the 2022 invasion, capturing villages near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and taking control of the Kurakhove thermal power plant.
The Kursk raid capitalised on freezing weather, which facilitated armoured vehicle movement. Reports indicate U.S.-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles were deployed to transport Ukrainian infantry to forward positions. However, some critics have questioned Ukraine’s strategy, given the strain on its troops elsewhere.
Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, defended the operation, asserting that it has forced Russia to maintain significant forces on its own territory and divert reserves. He claims Moscow has suffered 38,000 casualties and significant equipment losses in the Kursk sector since the summer.
Zelenskyy also alleged that North Korean combat groups have been deployed in the region to support Russian forces, with more than 3,000 reportedly killed or wounded.