Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that its forces had successfully thwarted six new Ukrainian attempts to breach its western Kursk region. Supported by aircraft and artillery, Russian forces repelled the incursions near the village of Novy Put, located 79 kilometers (50 miles) west of Sudzha, a crucial crossing point for Russia’s natural gas exports to Europe through Ukraine. The defense ministry’s statement, shared on the Telegram messaging app, highlighted the ongoing strategic significance of the region.
The Kursk region has become a focal point in the Russia-Ukraine war since Ukraine launched a significant cross-border offensive on August 6, marking the largest foreign attack on Russian territory since World War II. This incursion, backed by swarms of drones, heavy weaponry, and Western-made arms, saw Ukrainian forces push through into Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed earlier this month that his forces had taken control of 100 settlements across more than 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) in the Kursk region. However, Russian sources disputed these figures, asserting that they have since reclaimed some of these areas in counter-attacks.
The Russian defense ministry further reported that during the latest clashes in Kursk, around 50 Ukrainian servicemen were killed or injured, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear. In addition to personnel losses, Ukraine reportedly lost a tank, four combat armored vehicles, and a car during the incursion. As is common in the ongoing conflict, independent verification of these battlefield claims has been difficult, and Reuters was unable to immediately corroborate the reports. Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the latest developments in Kursk.
In eastern Ukraine, the Russian military also announced its capture of the settlement of Makiivka in the Luhansk region, a key battleground in the protracted war between the two nations. The Luhansk region has seen intense fighting as both sides vie for control of strategic territory.
The Russian Ministry of Defense additionally reported that its air defenses had downed 125 Ukrainian drones overnight in a continued effort to protect Russian airspace. Meanwhile, in the western Russian city of Voronezh, a residential apartment building was struck, according to the local governor, though details about the incident and potential casualties were not immediately available.
The situation in both the Kursk and Luhansk regions highlights the ongoing intensity of the conflict as Ukraine continues its counter-offensive and Russia seeks to defend its borders and hold territory in eastern Ukraine. Despite multiple failed incursions, the war remains at a stalemate in many areas, with both sides claiming victories but suffering heavy losses.
