Sun Jan 05 21:10:17 IST 2025: ## Ukrainian Counteroffensive in Kursk Region: Conflicting Claims Emerge

**Moscow, Russia –** A new offensive by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region has sparked a war of words between Kyiv and Moscow. The Ukrainian military launched a series of attacks on Sunday, reportedly targeting multiple fronts, according to Ukrainian officials. Andriy Kovalenko, a senior official with Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, described the operation as a surprise to Russian forces. Andriy Yermak, head of President Zelenskyy’s office, even claimed success for the operation.

However, the Russian Ministry of Defence painted a vastly different picture. They confirmed the Ukrainian incursion, claiming to have repelled the attack and inflicted heavy losses on the Ukrainian military. The ministry reported the destruction of most of an attacking force, including tanks and armored vehicles, near the settlement of Berdin. They also released footage allegedly showing the destruction of Ukrainian artillery. Russia claims over 340 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the last day alone, and estimates Ukrainian losses in Kursk since August at over 49,000 soldiers, along with significant military equipment. They further allege that North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties.

Ukraine, on the other hand, claims Russia has suffered far greater losses, citing a figure of 430,000 Russian soldiers killed in 2024.

While Russian forces claim to be pushing back Ukrainian advances in Kursk, the Ukrainian offensive underscores the ongoing intensity of the conflict. The fighting in Kursk comes as Russian forces continue their own offensive in eastern Ukraine, making slow but steady gains in the Donetsk oblast, aiming to capture the city of Pokrovsk. Both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with President Zelenskyy suggesting that territory held in Kursk could significantly influence future peace talks, a prospect that President Putin has stated he is open to, while simultaneously preparing for a prolonged conflict. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing exchange of missiles, with Moscow promising retaliation after Ukraine’s use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles. The conflicting claims from both sides highlight the difficulty in verifying battlefield accounts and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s trajectory.

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