Russia recaptures two villages in disputed Kursk region.

September 19, 2024 TruthUSA

As Russia’s counteroffensive escalates, Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the villages of Darino and Nikolayevo-Darino.

Following intense fighting over the past month, Russian forces have recaptured two villages in Kursk near the Ukrainian border.

A Russian commander mentioned that Ukrainian troops have retreated from Darino and Nikolayevo-Darino, with the latter village directly bordering Ukraine.

Major General Apti Alaudinov stated, “Our entire front has moved forward,” revealing that Russian forces are also making progress in eastern Ukraine.

Alaudinov, serving in the Russian National Guard’s 141st Motorized Regiment and as the head of the Defense Ministry’s military-political department, oversaw the integration of Wagner mercenaries into the Russian armed forces after a dramatic uprising against military leadership in 2023.

Ukraine initiated its offensive in Kursk in early August without disclosing the operation’s purpose, even to allies like the United States. It marked the largest incursion into Russian territory since World War II.

This bold move prompted Russian authorities to declare a state of emergency in the neighboring Belgorod region as Russian forces initially struggled to reclaim territory from Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

Recently, Russia launched a significant counteroffensive to change the dynamic of the conflict.

The villages recaptured by Russia are approximately nine miles from the previous front lines established by Ukrainian forces in August. This gain could provide Russia with a strategic position to target Sverdlikovo, a logistical center for Ukrainian forces in the region.

News sources reported that Russian forces captured the Ukrainian town of Ukrainsk in the eastern Donetsk region, moving westward to seize control of the entire Donbas region.

While Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed 34 attacks in eastern Ukraine, they did not verify the capture of Ukrainsk by Russian forces.

Russia’s newfound momentum has the potential to shift the balance in favor of Russia and impact the strategic calculations of both Russian and Ukrainian leadership, depending on the outcome of the Kursk operation.

CIA Director Bill Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore addressed the critical nature of the Kursk offensive, highlighting its significance in shaping the attitudes of Russian leadership towards the ongoing conflict.

Reuters contributed to this report

Source link