This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/05/ukraine-launches-surprise-operation-in-kursk-region-according-to-reports

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Ukraine launches surprise operation in Kursk region, according to reports Ukraine launches surprise operation in Russia’s Kursk region
(32 minutes later)
Footage purports to show Ukrainian armoured columns advancing towards village of Bolshoe SoldatskoeFootage purports to show Ukrainian armoured columns advancing towards village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe
Ukrainian armed forces begun a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday, in an apparent attempt to regain the initiative on the battlefield ahead of Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House. Ukrainian armed forces began a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday, in an apparent attempt to regain the initiative on the battlefield before Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House.
Video showed Ukrainian armoured columns advancing across snowy fields towards the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, north-east of the Ukrainian-held Russian town of Sudzha. Vehicles could also be seen driving through empty rustic settlements.Video showed Ukrainian armoured columns advancing across snowy fields towards the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, north-east of the Ukrainian-held Russian town of Sudzha. Vehicles could also be seen driving through empty rustic settlements.
Ukrainian officials confirmed a substantial operation was taking place. Russian military bloggers reported fierce fighting. Ukraine’s general staff said 42 combat clashes took place on Sunday in the Kursk area, with 12 ongoing. Ukrainian officials confirmed a substantial operation was taking place. Russian military bloggers reported fierce fighting. Ukraine’s general staff said 42 combat clashes took place on Sunday in the Kursk area, with 12 continuing.
There were unconfirmed reports Ukrainian troops had entered the Russian hamlets of Berdin and Novosotnitskii. Overnight Ukrainian sappers removed mines. Extensive electronic countermeasures were used to knock out some Russian drones.There were unconfirmed reports Ukrainian troops had entered the Russian hamlets of Berdin and Novosotnitskii. Overnight Ukrainian sappers removed mines. Extensive electronic countermeasures were used to knock out some Russian drones.
Ukraine launched a significant cross-border raid nearly six months ago into the Kursk region. It was the first time enemy tanks had penetrated Russian territory since the second world war and was a major embarrassment for the Kremlin.Ukraine launched a significant cross-border raid nearly six months ago into the Kursk region. It was the first time enemy tanks had penetrated Russian territory since the second world war and was a major embarrassment for the Kremlin.
Since then Russia’s army has been attempting to evict Ukrainian forces. It has had some success – recapturing about 40% of lost territory – but has been unable to push them out fully.Since then Russia’s army has been attempting to evict Ukrainian forces. It has had some success – recapturing about 40% of lost territory – but has been unable to push them out fully.
Andriy Yermak, the head of president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, suggested Ukraine’s latest attack had been successful. “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves,” he wrote on Sunday. Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, suggested Ukraine’s latest attack had been successful. “Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves,” he wrote on Sunday.
Andriy Kovalenko, a senior official with Ukraine’s national security and defence council, confirmed Sunday’s operation. “In the Kursk region the Russians are deeply concerned. They were attacked on multiple fronts, which came as a surprise to them,” he posted on Telegram.Andriy Kovalenko, a senior official with Ukraine’s national security and defence council, confirmed Sunday’s operation. “In the Kursk region the Russians are deeply concerned. They were attacked on multiple fronts, which came as a surprise to them,” he posted on Telegram.
Russian military bloggers speculated that Ukraine was trying to capture the Kursk nuclear power plant in the town of Kurchatov. Kyiv has previously dismissed this. The power plant is situated far away from the existing frontline.Russian military bloggers speculated that Ukraine was trying to capture the Kursk nuclear power plant in the town of Kurchatov. Kyiv has previously dismissed this. The power plant is situated far away from the existing frontline.
Sunday’s operation comes before Donald Trump’s return as US president on 20 January and possible “peace” negotiations later this year. Zelenskyy has hinted that land around Kursk could play a part in any peace deal. Kyiv currently controls 585 sq km of Russian territory.Sunday’s operation comes before Donald Trump’s return as US president on 20 January and possible “peace” negotiations later this year. Zelenskyy has hinted that land around Kursk could play a part in any peace deal. Kyiv currently controls 585 sq km of Russian territory.
Thus far, Moscow has shown few signs it is willing to stop fighting. Putin has said his territorial demands are unchanged. They include four Ukrainian regions that he “annexed” in 2022, including the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and other areas Russia does not control. Moscow has shown few signs it is willing to stop fighting. Putin has said his territorial demands are unchanged. They include four Ukrainian regions that he “annexed” in 2022, including the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and other areas Russia does not control.
Putin’s seeming calculation is that the new US administration will cut off all military supplies to Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to make further gains in 2025.Putin’s seeming calculation is that the new US administration will cut off all military supplies to Ukraine, allowing Russian forces to make further gains in 2025.
Inside Ukraine, Russia is already advancing at the fastest rate since its full-scale 2022 invasion. Russian troops are attempting to flank the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk oblast. In the past two days they captured several outlying villages, to the south-west.Inside Ukraine, Russia is already advancing at the fastest rate since its full-scale 2022 invasion. Russian troops are attempting to flank the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk oblast. In the past two days they captured several outlying villages, to the south-west.
The last Ukrainian defenders were recently forced to abandon their underground stronghold in a thermal power plant in the eastern city of Kurakhove. The Russians have since captured the ruined complex, with battles taking place on Kurakhove’s outskirts.The last Ukrainian defenders were recently forced to abandon their underground stronghold in a thermal power plant in the eastern city of Kurakhove. The Russians have since captured the ruined complex, with battles taking place on Kurakhove’s outskirts.
The latest Kursk raid was made possible by freezing weather, which made it easier for Ukrainian armoured units to advance. There were reports that US-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles were deployed to ferry Ukrainian infantry to forward positions beneath a tree line.The latest Kursk raid was made possible by freezing weather, which made it easier for Ukrainian armoured units to advance. There were reports that US-supplied Bradley fighting vehicles were deployed to ferry Ukrainian infantry to forward positions beneath a tree line.
There has been some criticism of Ukraine’s counter-invasion of Russia, at a time when exhausted Ukrainian troops have been struggling elsewhere. Ukraine’s commander in chief Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi has defended his tactics and last week visited the Kursk sector. There has been some criticism of Ukraine’s counter-invasion of Russia, at a time when exhausted Ukrainian troops have been struggling elsewhere. Ukraine’s commander in chief, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, has defended his tactics and last week visited the Kursk sector.
Syrskyi said the operation had compelled Russia to maintain a large group of forces on its own territory and to transfer reserves from other directions. He claimed Moscow had lost 38,000 personnel – killed or injured - and more than a thousand pieces of equipment. Syrskyi said the operation had compelled Russia to maintain a large group of forces on its own territory and to transfer reserves from other directions. He claimed Moscow had lost 38,000 personnel – killed or injured – and more than a thousand pieces of equipment.
Since August, 700 Russian soldiers and a handful of officers from the FSB spy agency have been captured in and around Kursk. This has allowed Ukraine to get back its own prisoners of war, including 189 returned just before New Year, Syrskyi said. Since August, 700 Russian soldiers and a handful of officers from the FSB spy agency have been captured in and around Kursk. This has allowed Ukraine to get back its own prisoners of war, including 189 returned just before new year, Syrskyi said.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy said Russia had lost up to a battalion of North Korean soldiers, brought in to join the battle for Kursk oblast, in just two days. They had been wiped out in the village of Makhnovka, together with Russian paratroopers, he said. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said Russia had lost up to a battalion of North Korean soldiers, brought in to join the fight for Kursk oblast, in just two days. They had been wiped out in the village of Makhnovka, together with Russian paratroopers, he said.
North Korean combat groups have been sent to several frontline villages south-east of Sudzha, reports suggest. According to Zelenskyy, more than 3,000 have so far been killed or wounded.North Korean combat groups have been sent to several frontline villages south-east of Sudzha, reports suggest. According to Zelenskyy, more than 3,000 have so far been killed or wounded.