Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russian defence ministry announced that Ukraine had carried out a counter-attack in the Kursk region.
Russian defence ministry stated in a statement: “About 9:00 Moscow time (0600 GMT), in order to prevent the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy carried out a counterattack with an assault unit consisting of two tanks, a mine clearing vehicle, and twelve armoured combat vehicles with paratroops towards Berdin village. Artillery and aviation of the North group of Russian forces shattered the assault group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” reported Reuters.
The announcement said two Ukrainian attacks had been repulsed. The latest reports from Russia’s influential war bloggers, revealed that the latest Ukrainian offensive had put Russian forces on the defensive.
“Despite heavy pressure from the enemy, our units are heroically defending the line,” the Operativnye Svodki channel noted. It was reported that artillery and small-arms battles were underway, and Ukraine was making use of Western-armoured vehicles to transport large numbers of infantry.
How significant is Ukraine’s territorial gain in Kursk?
Ukraine launched a huge military operation on August 6, 2024, directly into Russia’s Kursk region. The thrust was characterized by a surprise assault that enabled Ukraine to seize up to 1,300 square kilometres of territory across the Kursk Oblast. The operations caught the Russians off guard as they suffered further losses in control of territory; it was substantial for Ukraine to have gained it at the moment. Following the August incursion, some of the ground taken by the Ukrainian troops were held, while others were subsequently lost as there was intense fighting with Russian troops.
According to reports, the Russian army has lost tens of thousands of men in the Kursk region. According to estimates, since the launch of Ukraine’s operation in that area, over 38,000 soldiers have been lost. In addition, according to reports, more than 700 Russian servicemen were taken prisoner during the initial stages of the invasion. The region conquered at Kursk is believed to be a political bargaining chip which Ukraine may later use to influence Russia in the bargaining table. It has been claimed that keeping troops stationed in this area is a priority for Ukraine strategic goals
