Ukraine appears to launch new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region

Offensive would mean that large units of the armed forces would carry out an attack at an operational level in order to achieve strategic objectives,

Reisner said

If Russia takes a little bit more or all of Pokrovsk, it advances to the west,

Joshi told DW

An intention could be to put Russian forces on the back foot in order to prevent them from mounting their own continued offensive,

Joshi told DW

I believe that we will continue to see a few surprises with regard to January 20."

Markus Reisner echoed this view

It's complicated by the fact that there is also a pretty significant Russian offensive underway in Kursk at the same time,

he added

Looking at the northeast of Ukraine, it is clear that the front is not completely secured by the Russian side,

he said

If a paratrooper runs out of ammunition, he crushes the enemy with his armor and wheels!"

Ukraine's Air Assault Forces on Telegram on Monday

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost up to 485 servicemen in the Kursk direction."

Russia's Defense Ministry on Telegram on Monday night

The strike and a series of recent operations against Russian units in Kursk region were co-ordinated with the Ukrainian ground forces, who are currently commencing new offensive operations against the Russian armed forces,

Kyiv said

The situation in Kurakhove is quite difficult at the moment, as a large part of the town has been destroyed. Ukrainian troops are holding the western part of the town ... They also control the power plant located in the town,

Ukrainian military spokesman Viktor Trehubov said on Tuesday

Of course, this is a negative lesson, a negative experience,

said Ukrainian ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyi

Volodymyr Zelenskyyukrainian President

Including those who can help boost our capabilities not only to defend against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation."

Zelensky said

The tradeoff for committing more troops in Kursk can cost Ukrainian land,

writes Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst who tracks the frontline in Ukraine for The Black Bird Group

There is no quick and easy solution in Ukraine, ... The new American president himself knows the United States has no chance of winning anything if Ukraine loses.”

he said, adding

The morning in the Kursk region is starting off worryingly again. It is obvious that yesterday’s failure will not stop the enemy and he will try to impose his will on us again today,

wrote one blogger, Yuri Podolyaka

The positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region are very important, because, of course, this is what will matter for any negotiations that may take place in the coming year,

he said

The goals here are again political, not military, as in the Kursk operation in the summer,

said Ignatov

If we talk about the city of Kursk, then in previous months it was calmer – on some days, the missile threat warning could be one or two times a day,

said Furtsev

There are all sorts of rumours,

Pogozhikh said

All this cannot help but cause concern among citizens living in the city of Kursk, since the sound and shockwaves from downed drones and missiles are noticeably carried throughout the city’s outskirts,

Furtsev continued