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Ukraine takes Russia by surprise with huge ‘counter-attack’ deep into Kursk border region

Just a few months ago, Ukraine’s forces launched a huge shock ground offensive that rocked Russian troops.

By Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter, Will Stewart

13:06, Sun, Jan 5, 2025 | UPDATED: 14:39, Sun, Jan 5, 2025

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Russia has said Ukraine has launched another “counterattack” in the western border of Kursk – a region that has become a key battleground for the two ides in the war.

Moscow has apparently sent its top general to the region in a clear indication of how seriously the Kremlin is taking the situation.

In August, Kyiv’s forces began a huge shock ground offensive which rocked Russian troops.

Now another move has been made into Kursk – and while it was not immediately clear how much Ukraine had advanced – pro-Kremlin military bloggers have reported that a powerful new offensive was underway.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who is also the deputy defence minister, is understood to have arrived at 10am this morning.

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Ukraine kas launched a ‘counterattack’ in the western border region of Kursk (Image: Getty)

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (Image: Getty)

The Russian Defence Ministry said: “At about 9am Moscow time (6am UK time), in order to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack.”

Ukraine deployed two tanks, a dozen armoured vehicles and a demolition unit, concentrating on the village of Berdin, the Russian ministry said.

It added: “The operation to destroy the Ukrainian army formations continues.”

During “offensive operations”, units of Russia‘s North group of forces had “defeated” the formations of four mechanised, four airborne assault brigades, a marine brigade, and five territorial defence units in the areas of Darino, Kurilovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Alexandria, Leonidovo, Nikolskoye, Kozachya Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Melovaya, Staraya Sorochina, Novaya Sorochina, Russkoye Porechny and Sudzh, the statement claimed.

Posting on Telegram today, Andriy Kovalenko, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said: “The Russians in Kursk are experiencing great anxiety because they were attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them.

“The defence forces are working.”

In his regular televised address last night, Mr Zelensky himself said: “Fierce battles continue along the entire front line, with the hottest spot being near Pokrovsk.

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“The occupier continues to waste an insane number of its people in assaults.

“And I thank each and every one of our units, all our brigades defending Ukrainian positions and eliminating the occupier.

“The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the situation in the Kursk region.

“Specifically, in battles today and yesterday near just one village – Makhnovka in the Kursk region – the Russian army lost up to a battalion of infantry, including North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers. And that’s tangible.”

Most Popular Comments

“Well don Ukraine ! Ukraine will always be much quicker on their feet than Russia and the North Korean forces !” 8

“Lots of Russian and North Korean skeletons in Ukrainian countryside…… ” 7

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Mr Zelensky also said dozens of partner countries will participate in the meeting of the Ramstein group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, “including those who can help boost our capabilities not only to defend against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation.”

He added: “We will discuss this with them and continue to persuade them. The task remains unchanged: strengthening our air defence.”

US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin will attend the meeting. Joe Biden was originally scheduled to attend the October summit in Ramstein but it was postponed because of response to Hurricane Milton that battered the U.S.

In its last few weeks in office, the Biden administration was pressing to send as much military aid as possible to Ukraine before Donald Trump is sworn in Jan. 20.

Mr.Trump claimed during his election campaign that he could end the war in one day and his comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest – and most important – military backer.

Ukraine Russia Russia-Ukraine war Vladimir Putin

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