The Russian defence ministry has announced the successful recapture of 10 settlements previously taken by Ukrainian forces during an unexpected incursion in the Kursk border region last month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the initiation of “counter-offensive actions aligned with our strategic plan.”
According to Russian officials, their “Units of the North” successfully reclaimed these settlements over the course of two days near Snagost, significantly impacting the ongoing conflict that escalated on August 6.
Initial signals of the counteroffensive surfaced from a Chechen special forces leader who reported significant losses among six Ukrainian brigades.
A Ukrainian officer active in the Kursk region confirmed that Russian forces began their counteroffensive west of Sudzha. “The fighting is extremely intense, and the current situation is not in our favor,” he remarked anonymously.
Ukraine’s offensive aimed to draw Russian resources away from eastern Ukraine, reportedly gaining control over approximately 1,300 square kilometers of territory.
Nevertheless, Russian troops continue to advance, capturing villages in eastern Ukraine and closing in on the strategically vital town of Pokrovsk.
Military analysts have stated that the extent and potential outcomes of the Russian counterattacks remain uncertain, advising caution in analysis at this stage.
A Ukrainian brigade’s social media account indicated that Russians unexpectedly initiated their offensive near Snagost, with Ukrainians actively resisting.
Military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk stated that Russian forces have successfully reclaimed over 100 square kilometers of territory, asserting that Ukrainian resources can no longer effectively support operations in the Kursk region.
The scale and intensity of the initial Ukrainian incursion into Kursk last month caught Russian military forces off guard.
Despite the surprise success of Ukrainian forces in claiming towns and villages like Sudzha, President Putin later declared that their actions ultimately failed.
Putin suggested that Ukrainian forces aimed to provoke Russia to redeploy its troops, yet concluded that their strategies inadvertently bolstered Moscow’s main objective of securing the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Russian forces are now positioned just kilometers from Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, with reports of heavy clashes intensifying as they approach the town.
An overpass connecting the two towns was destroyed in recent fighting, and local officials reported damage to the water supply for Pokrovsk, although alternative sources remain accessible.
In a separate incident, a Russian drone strike in the northern town of Konotop resulted in 14 injuries, significantly disrupting preparations for Ukraine’s operations in the Kursk region.
Officials from the Sumy border region shared images of damaged apartment buildings, stating that power supply disruptions severely affected the energy infrastructure in Konotop.
