In a significant development, Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, disclosed on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces have captured nearly 600 Russian troops and seized control of 100 settlements during their three-week offensive in the Kursk region bordering Russia. Syrskyi revealed that Ukrainian forces are currently repelling a Russian counterattack in the area, having previously been encircled by the enemy. He stated that the Kursk operation’s primary objective was to draw Russian forces away from other key areas, notably Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. The Guardian reported that the operation successfully diverted a substantial number of Russian troops, particularly from Ukraine’s southern front. Syrskyi further noted that around 30,000 Russian servicemen have been deployed to the Kursk front, with the number continuing to increase.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a barrage of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, killing at least five people, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks, which marked the second night of heavy strikes across the war-torn nation, prompted Ukraine to urge its allies for permission to use Western-supplied weapons against targets deep within Russia.
In Pokrovsk, a strategically vital coal mining city and transport hub that has been targeted by Russia, Syrskyi highlighted Russia’s attempts to disrupt Ukraine’s supply lines to the front. He described the situation on the Pokrovsk front as “fairly difficult,” citing Russia’s advantage in personnel, weapons, and military equipment, along with its heavy use of artillery and aviation.
Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “crimes against humanity,” stating that four people had been killed and 16 wounded in Monday’s assault. One additional fatality was later reported. Zelensky also announced that Ukraine had successfully tested a domestically-produced ballistic missile and had utilized Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to counter the Russian barrages.
