Overview

• Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Ukrainian forces have full control over the Sumy-Kursk border, despite intensified Russian attacks.
• Russia has deployed North Korean infantry and claimed to recapture several settlements in the Kursk region, though these areas had already been largely destroyed by shelling.
• Ukrainian troops report heavy Russian losses, including nearly an entire battalion near Plekhovo, as sabotage and reconnaissance groups are neutralized.
• Concerns about potential encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk have been dismissed by Syrskyi, who emphasized effective defensive maneuvers and reinforcements, including drones and electronic warfare systems.
• The suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine is believed to have impacted Kyiv's situational awareness, as Russian forces aim to disrupt Ukrainian supply routes and solidify their positions.