Photo : A sign board in Kursk reads:
Photo : A sign board in Kursk reads:
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 05 January, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed about the conditions of Russian and North Korean forces, fighting in the Kursk region. He cited Ukraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. He said that the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers during the latest battle in the village of Makhnovka. Zelenskyy referred to this as “significant,” as a battalion mostly consists of several hundred troops. However, no further details were provided. He further talked about the “fierce battles,” fought near Pokrovsk. He said: “Russia’s forces continued to expend vast numbers of their own personnel in assaults.”
On 05 January, ABC reported that a Russian bomb targeted Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, injuring around 10. Zelenskyy said that an entire block of the building from the ground to the fifth floor was destroyed. He added that neighbouring houses were also damaged in the attack. He further informed about the bomb attacks in two other villages in Sumy and Kharkiv regions. Rescue teams were working to save the residents from under the rubble.
On 06 January, ARAB NEWS reported on the statements of Zelenskyy, on the importance of security guarantees from the US. He said that the end of the war would only be effective if the US provided security guarantees. He said: “Without the United States, security guarantees are not possible. I mean these security guarantees that can prevent Russian aggression.” In a recent interview, Zelenskyy called for Ukraine’s NATO membership, a ceasefire with security guarantees and a “peace through strength,” to end the conflict. Ukraine hopes for incoming US President Donald Trump to solve the conflict. It also feared the peace would force it to lose certain territories to Ukraine. Further, he talked about the upcoming visit to the US when Trump assumes office. Zelenskyy added that one of Trump’s first visits would be with him. He also called for his allies to boost Ukraine’s air defences at the Ramstein group meeting in Germany.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 05 January, RT reported on the statements from the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation about Ukraine’s counterattack in Kursk. The statement read: “Ukraine launched the assault with the goal of “stopping the advance of Russian troops.” It added that the attack involved two tanks, a mine-clearing vehicle, and 12 armoured combat vehicles from Ukraine. The attacks targeted the region of Berdin, in the northeast town of Sudzha. The Defence Ministry further said that it intercepted the assaults by destroying the equipment used in the attack. They added that Ukraine had lost around 340 servicemen, four tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured personnel carriers and 12 armoured combat vehicles in the Kursk in the last 24 hours.
On 05 January, RT reported on the destruction of Ukraine’s MiG29 fighter jet, two German-made tanks and a 105-mm L-119 cannon manufactured in Great Britain, citing Russia’s Defence Minister. They also added Ukraine lost numerous Western-made armour pieces which included a Bradley fighting vehicle. The statement further said that 17 counterattacks from Ukraine were repelled. The Soviet-era MiG-29 warplanes were delivered to Ukraine by the EU countries, mostly Poland.
On 04 January, CNN reported on Russia’s pledge to respond to the US-supplied ATACMS missile fired by Ukraine at the border region of Belgorod. It added that the Russian forces intercepted the eight missiles along with 27 aircraft-type UAVs. Russia’s Defence Ministry said: “These actions by the Kyiv regime, which Western curators support, will be met with retaliation.” It added that several drones were downed in the Leningrad region in the northwest and Kursk. Russia has threatened to respond with hypersonic ballistic missiles.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 05 January, The New York Times reported on the new assault launched by Ukraine in the Kursk region. Russia’s Defence Ministry said that Ukraine was using large new assault featuring tanks, mine-clearing equipment and at least a dozen armored vehicles. It also claimed to have repelled the offensive. Ukraine’s forces did not make any comments on this. However, Ukraine’s military high command informed that there were 42 combat engagements over the past day with 12 ongoing ones. The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak said that there was good news from Kursk as “Russia was getting what it deserves.” These claims could not be verified independently. According to analysts, attacks could be to gain their ground back and to distract the Russians from the Donetsk region. Ukraine’s forces were faced with personnel shortages, especially with Russia’s advancing in the eastern Donetsk region.
On 06 January, The New York Times reported on the difficulties faced by Transnistria due to the halt of Russia’s transit deal with Ukraine, exporting fuel. The region’s president Vadim Krasnoselsky confirmed that there would not be any “societal collapse.” He also praised the country’s citizens for finding ways to counter the problem. The region is faced with an “existential crisis” as it solely depends upon Russia for its fuel. The Prime Minister of Moldova, Dorin Recean condemned Russia for inducing this “humanitarian crisis.” Meanwhile, former deputy prime minister of Moldova, Alexandru Flenchea said that Russia was not ready to abandon Transnistria as it needed them. Transnistria's media outlets meanwhile accused Ukraine and Moldova’s government of the fuel cutoffs. Over the weeks, Moldova has shifted to expensive alternatives such as electricity from Romania. However, this has led to an escalation in the electricity charges.
References
“Russian and North Korean troops suffer heavy loses in Kursk, Zelenskyy says,” ABC NEWS, 05 January 2025
“Ukraine in new offensive in Russia's Kursk region,” BBC, 05 January 2025
“Ukraine reportedly lost control of 3,600 square kilometers of territory in 2024,” NHK WORLD, 05 January 2025
“Zelensky says Kyiv security guarantees will only work if US provides them,” ARAB NEWS, 06 January 2025
“Russia repels Ukrainian counterattack in Kursk region – MOD,” RT, 05 January 2025
“Ukrainian MiG29 fighter jet shot down – Russian MOD,” RT, 05 January 2025
“Russia vows retaliation after saying it downed eight US-made long-range missiles,” CNN WORLD, 04 January 2025
“A Gas Cutoff Sends Shivers Through a Russian-Backed Breakaway Region,” The New York Times, 06 January 2025