The conflict in Russia’s Kursk region has intensified as Ukrainian forces continue their advance, now in its second week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his troops have strengthened their positions and expanded territory in the region. According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces have seized over 80 settlements in Kursk, covering an area of 1,150 square kilometers.A significant development in this offensive was the destruction of a strategic bridge over the Seim River by Ukrainian forces, potentially cutting off Russian supply routes. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed this operation, which could isolate over 30 Russian villages from the rest of the region. Russia accused Ukraine of using Western-made HIMARS rockets in this attack, highlighting the role of advanced weaponry in the conflict.However, Russian sources paint a different picture of the situation. The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have repelled several Ukrainian attacks in the Kursk region. Russian forces reportedly eliminated Ukrainian mobile groups attempting to break through to settlements such as Alexeievsky, Kauchuk, and Malaya Loknya.The conflict has taken a significant toll on civilians. Russian authorities report that at least 12 civilians have been killed and over 100 injured since the start of the operation. The escalating violence has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from border villages in the Kursk region.As the conflict continues to evolve, both sides are accusing each other of targeting civilian infrastructure and using advanced weaponry. The international community watches closely as this marks the largest cross-border offensive by Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion and the first by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.
Key points
- Ukrainian forces claim to have seized over 80 settlements in Russia’s Kursk region.
- A strategic bridge over the Seim River was destroyed, potentially isolating Russian forces.
- Russia reports repelling Ukrainian attacks and accuses Ukraine of using Western-made weapons.
- Civilian casualties and mass evacuations have been reported in the conflict zone.
Contradictions👾Ukraine claims significant territorial gains and successful operations, while Russia insists on repelling attacks and denies Ukrainian advances.
👾There are conflicting reports on the extent of Ukrainian territorial gains, with some sources suggesting the numbers might be exaggerated.
