Overview

• Ukrainian forces launched a surprise counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region, targeting multiple fronts including Berdin and Bolshoye Soldatskoye.
• The offensive follows months of Russian advances in the area, where Ukraine has held parts of Kursk since a cross-border incursion in August 2024.
• Russia claims to have repelled initial Ukrainian assaults, reporting the destruction of tanks and armored vehicles, though independent verification remains unavailable.
• Reports indicate significant losses for Russian and North Korean troops stationed in Kursk, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky citing heavy casualties near Makhnovka.
• The timing of the offensive is seen as a strategic move to strengthen Kyiv's position ahead of possible peace negotiations under the incoming U.S. administration.