Russia Thwarts New Ukrainian Offensive in Kursk
A Russian soldier. X/ @de_rt_com
January 6, 2025 Hour: 8:36 am
The bulk of the Ukrainian forces was annihilated near Khutor Berdin.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its forces annihilated the bulk of Ukrainian troops involved in an offensive launched the previous day in Russia’s Kursk region.
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“Decisive actions by the Sever (North) military group, supported by aviation and artillery, thwarted the Ukrainian army’s offensive attempt. The bulk of the enemy forces was annihilated near Khutor Berdin,” the Russian command stated.
Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack in the direction of Bolshoe Soldatskoe but suffered significant losses, including over 150 soldiers, four tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armored vehicles, and one infantry vehicle.
According to Russian blogger Yuri Podolyaka, Ukrainian forces involved in the offensive could face a rearward threat as the Russian army partially recaptured the village of Russki Porechni, located behind the advancing Ukrainian troops, while they were advancing toward Khutor Berdin.
Other Russian bloggers reported advancements by the Russian army in Cherchasaya Konopelka, south of Sudzha—the main city occupied by Ukraine. Over the past two days, these bloggers have published numerous videos of Russian drone strikes targeting Ukrainian combat vehicles in the Kursk region.
On Sunday, Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that Ukrainian forces had launched a new offensive from several directions in Kursk. According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces achieved tactical successes in three districts.
The following day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed support for Ukraine’s actions, stating that they “will be a factor in any negotiations that might arise next year.”
In August 2024, Ukrainian forces gained control of approximately 1,100 square kilometers of Kursk. However, they have since lost more than half of the occupied territory, according to a recent analysis published by the military information portal Militarnyi.
teleSUR/JF Source: EFE
