Russia said Ukraine launched a counterattack in Kursk

“In order to stop the advance of the Russian army on the Kursk province front, Ukrainian forces this morning launched a counterattack towards the Berdin residential area, mobilizing an assault group consisting of two tanks, one mine clearance vehicle, 12 infantry fighting vehicles and many soldiers,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

Videos released by Telegram channels supporting the Russian military on the same day showed a convoy of many Ukrainian combat vehicles advancing in a vertical line, continuously firing toward an area believed to be the Russian force’s defense line.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the artillery and air force of the Northern Army “defeated the Ukrainian shock group”, destroying two tanks, a mine clearance vehicle and 7 armored vehicles. “Russian forces are continuing to neutralize the Ukrainian combat formation participating in the counterattack,” the agency said.

The Russian military also announced that the Northern army had “repelled two other Ukrainian counterattacks in Kursk”, as well as attacked enemy positions in this province and Sumy province across the border.

Some Russian military news sites believe that the counterattack is intended to force the country’s forces to return to a defensive position in part of Kursk province, while pro-Russian Ukrainian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka believes that this may be an attempt to distract. direction of Kiev in preparation for an offensive towards the Glushkovo residential area further west.

“The enemy concentrated infantry on farms to try to break through towards the Bolshoy Soldatskoye residential area. Ukrainian armor mobilized dozens of times and sent infantry to the front line. The enemy launched a second armored formation. three in the counterattack. Russian forces destroyed and disabled at least 15 of these vehicles,” Russian military news website RusVesna said.

Ukrainian officials revealed almost no information about the counterattack. “Russia is getting what it deserves,” said Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine.

Ukraine in early August 2024 launched a large-scale offensive campaign against Russia’s Kursk province, occupying more than 1,300 square kilometers after several weeks of fighting. This was the first ground attack by foreign forces targeting Russia since World War II.

Kiev’s goal is to force Moscow to withdraw its troops to protect the border province, prevent the advance of the Russian army on the Donbass front, including Lugansk and Donetsk provinces, as well as create leverage for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government in negotiations. judge in the future.

However, the situation is not as Ukraine expected. After an initial period of surprise, the Russian army reinforced its forces and mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers for the Kursk front, while still maintaining the momentum of its advance in Donbass. Russian counterattacks have narrowed the area occupied by Ukraine to 482 square kilometers, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Anonymous US officials on December 28, 2024 said that Ukraine can only hold on to the remaining areas in Kursk province in the next few months, when Russia can launch a large-scale coordinated counterattack campaign within the month. 1. “Ukrainian forces will have to retreat or face the risk of being surrounded,” one person said.