Ukraine's Surprise Push in Russia's Kursk Region

Ukraine is making a bold move, pushing its forces into Russia's Kursk region. This comes as a surprise, given that Ukraine's troops are facing tough times elsewhere along the frontline. The Russian defense ministry has confirmed this, saying they've repelled two Ukrainian attacks. Pro-war bloggers also reported that Kyiv's forces are on the move in Kursk. This isn't the first time Ukraine has ventured into Russian territory. In August, they captured around 1, 200 square kilometers but have since lost about half of that. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, shared on Telegram, "Kursk region, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves. " Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation centre, added that the Russian side is under attack from multiple directions and feeling the heat of this unexpected offensive. While the goal of this new offensive isn't clear, it's certain that Ukraine will be using up valuable resources. Weapons and manpower are already in short supply on the eastern front, where Moscow's troops have been making steady advances.

Russia, on the other hand, has captured a significant amount of territory in eastern Ukraine, especially in the Donetsk region. This has come at a high cost, with Russian casualties estimated to be over 750, 000 since the war began. North Korea has also sent troops to support Russia in the Kursk region. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that hundreds of North Korean troops were killed in Kursk over a weekend, though this hasn't been verified. Meanwhile, Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. They've been using Iranian-designed drones daily, causing destruction but not leading to long blackouts thanks to quick repairs and electricity imports from Europe. In the first three days of the new year, Russia deployed over 300 drones and 20 missiles. On New Year's Day alone, four drones bypassed Kyiv's air defenses, striking the city center, including a building near the presidential administration. These drones used advanced satellite navigation antennas, experts say.

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