Moscow Announces Repulsion of New Ukrainian Offensive in Kursk by Russian Forces
Moscow shared that its forces have successfully taken control of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region, clearing the path for a final push towards the strategic town of Pokrovsk.
Russian troops, supported by aircraft and artillery, have thwarted a recent Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s western Kursk region, as per Moscow’s defense ministry.
“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are actively engaged in an operation to eliminate an enemy group that infiltrated into the Kursk region,” stated the ministry on Jan. 5.
“Two assault detachments from the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted attacks, which were successfully repelled.”
According to the ministry, the Ukrainian offensive involved paratroopers, two combat tanks, and around a dozen armored vehicles.
“Efforts to neutralize the Armed Forces of Ukraine are ongoing,” the ministry confirmed.
At the time of publication, there had been no acknowledgment from Ukraine’s military regarding renewed hostilities in the Russian border region.
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“Russia is experiencing the consequences it deserves,” Yermak shared on the Telegram messaging platform.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Kyiv’s counter-disinformation center, also suggested that Ukrainian forces had launched a coordinated offensive in Kursk.
The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified by The Epoch Times.
In August 2024, Kyiv initiated a surprise offensive into Russia’s western Kursk region, which shares a border with northeastern Ukraine.
Initially successful in capturing several hundred square miles of territory, Ukrainian troops have since lost about half of it to Russian forces.
Despite ongoing Russian counterattacks, Ukraine holds a small portion of Kursk, which it aims to use as leverage in future ceasefire negotiations.
On Jan. 6, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that Ukraine’s current position in Kursk would factor into future peace discussions with Russia.
Recent reports from Ukrainian and U.S. officials allege that thousands of North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang, under a strategic partnership agreement, have neither confirmed nor denied these allegations.
Additionally, Zelenskyy reiterated claims over the weekend that Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk were suffering significant casualties.
“In recent battles near a single village… the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroopers,” Zelenskyy stated on Jan. 4.
A local resident walks down the street in the embattled town of Pokrovsk on Dec. 11, 2024.Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images
Moscow Makes Strides in Donetsk
Simultaneously, Russian forces seized the heavily fortified town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region, as per Russia’s defense ministry on Jan. 6.
Kurakhove is located approximately 20 miles south of Pokrovsk, a crucial Ukrainian logistics center that Russian forces have been steadily advancing towards.
The fall of Kurakhove is expected to accelerate Russian forces’ ongoing advance in Donetsk.
On the same day, the ministry announced the capture of the village Dachenske, situated less than five miles from Pokrovsk.
Despite these reported developments, officials in Kyiv have not confirmed any losses on their side.
In 2022, Russia forcibly took over four regions in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, including Donetsk.
Backed by Western allies, Kyiv remains committed to reclaiming all lost territories despite dwindling military resources.
Russia insists on a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the claimed territories as a prerequisite for resolving the conflict, which is approaching its fourth year in February.
Reuters contributed to this report.
