Ukraine has initiated a counterattack in the southern Russian border region of Kursk, with the Ukrainian presidency asserting that Russia is facing the consequences of its actions. The Ukrainian military had previously launched an incursion into Kursk in August and has successfully maintained control over much of the territory it seized, despite Russian and North Korean troops' attempts to push them back across the border.
In a brief Telegram post, the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, stated that Russia is receiving what it deserves in the Kursk region. Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed that Ukrainian forces had executed surprise attacks against Russian forces in multiple locations.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian counterattacks were launched to halt a Russian offensive, with both sides engaging in combat near the village of Berdin. Ukrainian forces, including tanks and armored vehicles, were reportedly repelled by Russian troops.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine disclosed that in clashes near the village of Makhnovka, the Russian army suffered significant losses, including up to a battalion of North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers. Unofficial Russian military blogs corroborated the ongoing conflict, with reports indicating Ukrainian advancements towards Berdin.
The blogs described the use of radio electronic warfare systems by Ukrainian forces to impede Russian drones, along with intense artillery and tank exchanges. The offensive, originating from the Sudzha area, involved Ukrainian paratroopers and escalated fighting in various directions.
Acting governor of Kursk, Aleksandr Hinshtein, announced the arrival of the Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, in the region. While Yevkurov oversees military security in border regions, the purpose of his visit amidst the current hostilities remains unclear.
Ukrainian and western sources estimate that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have seized significant territory following their cross-border operation.
