Mon Nov 11 15:02:37 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Battles Russian Advance in Kursk, While Moscow Presses Offensive in Donbas

**Kyiv, Ukraine** – Ukraine is facing a two-pronged attack from Russia, with Moscow pushing to retake territory lost in August and launching a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that Ukraine is engaged in heavy fighting with nearly 50,000 Russian troops in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces conducted a surprise incursion in August.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its slow but steady advance in Donbas, capturing villages in a bid to seize the entire region. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will strengthen its defenses in the east, particularly on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts, where the most active fighting is taking place.

The situation in Kursk comes after reports that Moscow has amassed a force of 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, on the border with Ukraine. While Western nations, South Korea, and Ukraine have confirmed North Korea’s involvement, Russia has not commented on the presence of North Korean soldiers.

The ongoing fighting has led to casualties and destruction. On Monday, two people were killed and five injured in Nikopol after Russian shelling, while a missile strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih wounded at least 14 people, including a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. A Ukrainian military spokesperson warned that Russian infantry groups could launch ground assaults on the neighboring Zaporizhia region in the coming days.

Furthermore, Russian attacks damaged a dam near the front line in the Donetsk region, threatening nearby villages with rising water levels.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin denied reports that President Vladimir Putin had spoken to US President-elect Donald Trump about the war, despite statements from Trump during his campaign that he could end the conflict within 24 hours. The Kremlin also indicated that it is not yet prepared to speak with European leaders about ending the conflict, citing their continued support for Ukraine.

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