Russia announced on Tuesday that it has recovered from the Ukrainian army 12 towns and “more than 100 square kilometers” in the Kursk border area, where its forces confirmed great progress in recent days.
A statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense said: “During the offensive operations, units of the North Group liberated 12 towns,” while the Ukrainian army said on Monday that it “strengthened” its forces fighting in this Russian region in front of the rapid progress of the Moscow forces.
The Ukrainian forces took control of at least 1,300 square kilometers from the Kursk region last August, while Kiev said it was an attempt to win a bargaining paper in future negotiations and forcing Russia to move its forces from eastern Ukraine.
This is the most dangerous attack on Russian territory since the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, and is seen as a way for Ukraine to embarrass the Kremlin by controlling part of the Russian territories.
By mid -February, Russia has regained at least 800 square kilometers of land there. In the past few days, it launched a major attack carried out by Mazhuns from multiple directions, and threatens to cut Ukraine supply lines and possible withdrawal methods.
Russian forces are rapidly advancing towards Soda, an important gas center and the main city in the Ukrainian -controlled area.
The Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Army Olksander Serski said on Monday that he “strengthened” his forces fighting in this Russian region, explaining that the situation on the border between the two countries is still “under control.”
The Ukrainian forces controlled hundreds of square kilometers in the Russian border area of Korsk after a surprise attack in August 2024. But the Russian forces have since registered more than two -thirds of the lands controlled by Ukraine, with the support of thousands of North Korean soldiers, according to Kiev, Seoul and the West. In mid -February, Ukraine said it still dominates 500 square kilometers.
Military analysts are now benefiting from a difficult situation of the Ukrainian forces, which are feared besieging in light of the Russian progress that threatens their logistical lines.
Serski ruled out this possibility, noting that “the units are taking a timely manner to maneuver towards favorable defense lines,” according to a formula that the Russian and Ukrainian sides usually use to talk about retreat.
Ukrainian officials said they hoped to use this pocket of Russian territory under their control as a bartering card during possible peace talks with Moscow.
