Kursk under fire: Ukraine launches new offensive in the border area

Kursk under fire: Ukraine launches new offensive in the border area

The situation in the Kursk region, in western Russia, is becoming more and more explosive! On Sunday, when photographer and activist Oleg Pogozhikh walked into his studio, he was greeted by a deafening bang. The explosions echoed through the streets and made it clear: things are boiling here!

The region bordering Ukraine was occasionally the target of attacks early in the war. But the fighting has intensified dramatically since August last year. At that time, Ukraine launched a daring offensive and captured several villages. Although Russia was able to recapture much of the lost territory, the situation is now tense again.

A new attack: Ukraine strikes back!

On Sunday morning, around nine o'clock, Ukrainian troops launched another advance. They advanced from their occupied Sudzha area towards the villages of Berdin and Bolshoye Schlachtskoye, with the aim of reaching the city of Kursk. “Everything is as usual: sirens, explosions nearby,” Pogozhikh reported on his Telegram channel “Eye of Kursk.” "Today it is particularly loud. I was shaken several times so that my ears were blocked. So close that you ask yourself: What is the enemy trying to achieve?"

Local politician Yan Furtsev from the liberal opposition Yabloko party confirmed that the events began after midnight. "The warnings of missile attacks sounded, explosions were heard on the streets of Kursk. The frequency of explosions that night was higher than previous nights in January and even December."

Fear and unrest in Kursk

The citizens of Kursk are on alert. Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov traveled to the region to assess the situation. “All this cannot help but cause concern among citizens,” said Furtsev. The first days of January are public holidays in Russia, which makes the information situation even more difficult.

But not all residents are in panic. Pogozhikh expressed optimism: "Everything is calm and good in Kursk. I trust the Russian army. It may be loud, but people are not worried." He believes that the threat from Ukrainian troops only exists on social media. “Life goes on as normal.”

The Ukrainian attacks, while intense, are not yet critical, according to Oleg Ignatov, an analyst at Crisis Group. "The scale of the latest attack is still small. Russian troops are better prepared."

The situation remains tense as fighting continues in the Kursk region. Russian forces say they repelled the attacks and destroyed parts of the Ukrainian armored column. But the question remains: How will this conflict develop further?

The Kursk region is in focus as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to rise. The coming days could be crucial as both sides prepare for a possible escalation.

– Submitted by West-East media