Moscow, Russia – Russian forces have successfully recaptured three settlements in the Kursk region, marking a significant step in their ongoing operation to drive Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the areas of Malaya Lokhnya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Kositsa are now under Russian control after a series of military actions in the region.
The developments come after reports by Russian military bloggers described a covert operation where special forces maneuvered through a gas pipeline near Sudzha, attempting to surprise Ukrainian troops by approaching from an unexpected direction. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the ongoing military efforts to clear Ukrainian positions in the region, emphasizing the success of the operation.
The recapture of these settlements is part of Russia’s broader effort to reclaim territory lost to Ukrainian forces in August 2024. Ukrainian troops had seized around 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory in Kursk as part of their strategy to put pressure on Russia, aiming to use the region as leverage in future negotiations.
In recent days, Russia has intensified its push to retake control, with open-source maps showing Ukrainian forces being increasingly encircled by Russian troops. Russian officials, including former President Dmitry Medvedev, described the situation as a tightening noose around Ukrainian forces, with Medvedev claiming that “the lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces used the pipeline to try and infiltrate their positions. However, they stated that the Ukrainian forces had detected the operation and launched counterattacks using rockets, artillery, and drones, successfully repelling the offensive. The Ukrainian General Staff reported 15 Russian attacks in the region, with six ongoing clashes and numerous airstrikes.
The situation in Kursk has raised tactical dilemmas for Ukraine as Russian forces gain ground. Ukrainian officials are weighing the possibility of a strategic withdrawal, which would require careful maneuvering to avoid a chaotic retreat under intense Russian fire.
As the battle for Kursk continues, the conflict remains a major point of contention between Russia and Ukraine, with the broader geopolitical consequences of the war continuing to reverberate across Europe and the United States. With the situation in Kursk still fluid, both sides remain locked in a battle for control of key territories that could have significant implications for the course of the war.
Elsewhere, Russian forces reported advancing in the Donetsk region, where they claimed to have captured the village of Kostyantynopil. In southern Ukraine, Russian-installed officials in the Kherson region reported a missile strike by Ukrainian forces on the town of Velyki Kopani, which resulted in casualties.
As the war enters its second year, the shifting frontlines in Kursk and other regions indicate that both sides are preparing for a prolonged conflict, with no clear end in sight.