Fresh Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kursk region reportedly repelled

Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that it had repelled a fresh Ukrainian counteroffensive in its southwestern Kursk region on Thursday, exactly six months to the day since the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Russian territory.

The Defence Ministry said on Thursday evening that it had thwarted what it called “suicidal” attempts by the AFU to advance towards the villages of Ulanok and Cherkasskaya Konopelka, both of which are to the southeast of the main AFU stronghold in the region, Sudzha, which has been under Ukrainian control since August.

According to the ministry, Russian forces successfully repelled all eight waves of attacks launched by two Ukrainian mechanised battalions towards the two villages on Thursday morning, causing the AFU “significant” losses, including at least 200 dead, missing or injured servicemen and almost 50 vehicles.

The pro-war Russian Telegram channel Dva Mayora said on Friday morning that the AFU had managed to penetrate 5km into Russian defences, but had “not yet achieved their main objective” and had lost “dozens” of armoured vehicles in Russian drone strikes.

Nevertheless, there were signs that the AFU were “preparing new assaults”, Dva Mayora said, with renewed fighting in areas around Sudzha “where Russian forces had previously managed to gain a foothold”.

Dva Mayor’s assessment echoed that of the US-based Institute for the Study of War, which confirmed on Thursday evening that Ukrainian troops had advanced up to 5km behind Russian lines to the southeast of Sudzha.

News of the fresh offensive came as the Office of the President of Ukraine said it was prepared to open a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from occupied parts of the Kursk region to other areas of Russia should Moscow make a formal request.

“Apparently, the Russians do not want such a humanitarian corridor, because we have not received a corresponding request from them”, the Office of the President of Ukraine told AFP on Thursday.

In his nightly address to the nation on Thursday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made no mention of the reported counteroffensive, but noted the incursion’s six-month anniversary, saying that with it, Ukraine had successfully “brought the war home to Russia” and shown the world that despite its limited resources, Ukraine could “act decisively, unexpectedly, and effectively”.