Ukrainian forces have launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region of Russia, focus.de reports.
Geographical images show that Ukrainian armed forces have entered the fields southwest and south of Berdin and have penetrated the southern part of the settlement. Berdin is about 30 kilometers from the border.
Several prominent Russian military bloggers have expressed concern about the military's ability to repel Ukrainian attacks in Kursk.
Ukraine is using a combination of electronic jamming signals to prevent Russian drones from operating as well as targeted long-range attacks deep inside the country. The tanks allow them to advance further, which, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), makes the advance successful so far.
“Russia is getting what it deserves“, wrote the head of the presidential office in Kiev, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram, thus indirectly confirming the Ukrainian offensive.
The military in Kiev initially did not provide any information about the attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry also remained silent about the offensive. According to observers, the offensive, about two weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, could serve to highlight Russian weaknesses so that the Ukrainians can start the expected negotiations from a better position.
The Russian army, however, continues to advance, albeit slowly, in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops continue to suffer heavy losses in eastern Ukraine but have continued to advance in the new year. According to military observers, Ukrainian defenders had to surrender three more villages near the town of Pokrovsk in Donbas, which has been under fighting for months.
Russian forces have taken control of Kurakhove, a town in Ukraine's Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday, as quoted by Reuters. The capture of Kurakhove "significantly complicates logistical and technical support" for Ukrainian forces, the ministry in Moscow added. Kurakhove is located 32 km south of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub that Russian forces have been advancing towards for months.