Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive in the southern Russian border region of Kursk, following months of Russian military action. Ukrainian officials declared that Russia is “getting what it deserves” in response to the renewed conflict.
The Kursk offensive, marking the first foreign ground invasion of Russia since World War II, initially caught both Russia and its allies by surprise. Ukrainian forces made swift advancements, but Russia eventually managed to push them back. The front line has remained largely unchanged in recent months.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed that Ukrainian troops had carried out surprise attacks against Russian forces in various locations across Kursk. The incursion into the region first began in August 2024.
On the night of Sunday, January 2025, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, posted a brief message on Telegram: “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves.”
The Ukrainian forces involved in the counteroffensive used two tanks, a demolition vehicle, and 12 armored vehicles. However, Russian jets and artillery destroyed the tanks, the demolition vehicle, and seven of the armored vehicles, according to Moscow’s statements.
Despite efforts from Russian and recently deployed North Korean troops to push Ukrainian units back, Ukraine has held much of the territory it captured in the region.
Russian Defense Ministry reports indicated that the Ukrainians launched counterattacks to halt a Russian offensive, with both being repelled. Moscow claimed that Ukrainian forces had launched an assault near the village of Berdin, roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the border, but it was thwarted with air support.
Additionally, a blog linked to Russia’s Northern Group of Forces confirmed the ongoing clashes, noting active hostilities in Sudzha district, with Ukrainian mobile groups using armored vehicles. Russian artillery, aviation, and small arms were actively deployed in the fighting.
President Zelensky of Ukraine stated on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had inflicted significant losses on Russian and North Korean troops in the Makhnovka region, claiming the loss of up to a battalion of North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers.
Russian military blogs also acknowledged the intensified fighting, reporting that Ukrainian forces had pushed north towards Berdin, with some using electronic warfare systems to disrupt Russian UAVs.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Kursk, an area where Ukraine has made significant territorial gains following the cross-border incursion.
During his year-end press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to provide a timeline for recapturing Kursk, describing the current conflict in the region as unclear and noting that Ukrainian forces were risking heavy losses by advancing into Russian territory.
Speculation suggests that Ukraine’s actions in Kursk could be aimed at strengthening its position ahead of any potential ceasefire negotiations.
Incoming US President Donald Trump has promised to end the war “in 24 hours,” though he has not detailed how, and has refrained from commenting on future military aid to Ukraine.
