The outside world was greatly surprised when Ukrainian forces suddenly entered Russia's Kursk border region in early August and seized several communities.
Just over a month later, the Russians launched a series of counterattacks against several communities, including the village of Sanagost. Last week, they carried out a second wave of attacks in the same area, reclaiming about 50 square kilometers of their territory, including the village of Novoivanovka, and now reaching the outskirts of the village of Olgovka, independent experts said based on geolocation. Fighting pictures.
I reported this weekend The Russian Defense Ministry reported that one of its Su-34 aircraft attacked Ukrainian forces with glide bombs near the border. The attack was said to have been aimed at “a hangout and gathering place for members of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he wrote Reuters.
“For five days, the Russians have been trying to break through our defenses in the Kursk region,” President Zelensky wrote on social media on Monday, adding that Ukrainian forces were launching counterattacks.
In recent days, the Russians have intensified their attacks and appear to have driven a wedge into Ukraine-controlled territory. Based on satellite images and photos of the fighting, they have retaken at least three villages.
According to analysis group Blackbird, whose data is based on open sources, the Ukrainians captured nearly 1,000 square kilometers in the first weeks of their offensive – and now the area is said to have shrunk to just over 770 square kilometres.
Blackbird analyst Emil Castelme said that so far the Ukrainians do not appear to have built any large-scale fortifications in the area, making it more difficult to contain the opposition side. Some Russian forces were able to advance relatively far.
– Clearly, the Ukrainian lines don't seem to be holding up well, he told the New York Times.
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