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By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
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Ukraine launched a fresh operation in Russia's southern Kursk region, Moscow said on Sunday, after Ukrainian officials and military bloggers reported new attacks from Kyiv in a region where Moscow is eager to reassert its grip.
Kyiv "launched a counterattack" at around 9 a.m. Moscow time (1 a.m. ET) on Sunday "in order to halt the advance of Russian troops" in Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine's military had not officially commented at the time of writing.
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Why It Matters
Moscow has been trying to peel back Ukrainian control of a chunk of territory in Kursk for months after the start of Kyiv's surprise attack in August 2024, and has managed to retake roughly half of the area gained by Ukraine.
Ukraine's grip on internationally-recognized Russian soil is an embarrassment for Moscow, particularly ahead of possible ceasefire negotiations that could be on the cards after President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated later this month.
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What To Know
Russia's government said attacking Ukrainian forces used two tanks, a demolition vehicle and 12 armored vehicles around Berdin, a village northeast of Sudzha. Russian jets and artillery destroyed the tanks, demolition vehicle and seven of the armored vehicles, Moscow said.
In a cryptic post on Sunday, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Russia was "getting what it deserves" in Kursk, but offered no further details. Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said Russian forces in Kursk had been "attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them."
One of Russia's community of influential military bloggers said on Sunday that a Ukrainian attack had taken place in Berdin, claiming Kyiv had "not entered Berdin itself, but is actively building up its forces."
The blogger also reported Ukrainian attacks around Bolshoye Soldatskoye, a village just east of Berdin. "The enemy has covered the attack area with electronic warfare, so many drones are useless," the blogger said.
Another blogger, which purports to have ties to the Kremlin's security services, said Ukrainian forces were operating in Berdin and the surrounding area, with Russian artillery "unable to cope."
"All radio frequencies and even the Internet were jammed during the offensive," the account reported.
Footage claiming to show Ukrainian vehicles close to Bolshoye Soldatskoye on Sunday has circulated on social media, although it could not be independently verified.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers provided by Russian President Vladimir Putin's ally, Kim Jong-un, have been deployed to fight Kyiv in Kursk, according to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence.
What People Are Saying
Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council on Telegram: "The Russians in Kursk are experiencing great anxiety because they were attacked from several directions and it came as a surprise to them. The defense forces are working."
Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, on Telegram: "Kursk, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves."
Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram: "At about 9.00 Moscow time, in order to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack by an assault group consisting of two tanks, a demolition vehicle and twelve armored combat vehicles with a paratrooper in the direction of the farm of Berdin.
"The artillery and aviation of the 'North' force group defeated the AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] assault group. Two tanks, a demolition vehicle and seven armored combat vehicles were destroyed."
What Happens Next
The scale of the apparent Ukrainian operations are not yet clear, making it difficult to predict what Kyiv may intend with its reported push, and the overall impact on Ukraine's control over border settlements in Kursk.
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