Ukraine Pushes New Offensive in Kursk as Russia Claims Advances in Donetsk

Kyiv reports heavy Russian losses in Kursk, while Moscow asserts control over key areas in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that nearly 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed during Ukraine's five-month-long operation in Russia's Kursk region, though these figures remain unverified.
Ukraine's forces have established a buffer zone in Kursk, reportedly diverting Russian troops and North Korean reinforcements from other critical frontlines in eastern Ukraine.
Russia claims to have captured the town of Kurakhove in Donetsk, a strategic location south of Pokrovsk, which could accelerate its push toward the region's logistics hub.
Russian drone strikes in Ukraine's Kherson region killed one civilian and injured several others, while heavy fighting continues near the Kursk border and in Donetsk.
Both sides appear to be intensifying operations ahead of potential peace talks influenced by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration.