Ukrainian Armed Forces' successes in Kursk direction. Serhiy Zgurets' column

Situation in the Kursk region

The Kursk section of our front remains a focus of attention and activity. By 4 p.m, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported 62 combat engagements in this direction, nearly two-thirds of all clashes across the entire front. On January 5, Ukrainian forces launched a new attack in the Kursk region, where a bridgehead has been held since August 6, 2024, covering an area of about 500 square kilometers - half the size it was at the start of the Ukrainian campaign.

During this time, the number of Russian troops deployed to push back Ukrainian forces has increased from 11,000 to over 50,000. Over six months of combat, according to General Syrskyi, who was there on January 1, the total losses of the enemy amount to more than 38,000 personnel, which are significant figures. We understand that Syrskyi's visit to this area was likely related to certain details in planning actions that began yesterday.

What do we know today? Offensive actions took place northeast of Sudza, from Martynivka to the Berdyn settlement, in the direction of Velyke Soldatske village, which is located at the northern edge of the Ukrainian bridgehead. The advance was not along the road to Kursk, but across the fields along this route. Yesterday, the roads were frozen, which was beneficial for the movement of equipment.

Ahead of the Ukrainian column, there was a demining vehicle, followed by a tank and armored vehicles with infantry. This column reached the Berdyn settlement on the morning of January 5, where Ukrainian troops are likely securing positions. The "gray zone" has been expanded there, but we cannot yet say precisely how much it has grown, although some experts estimate it to be around 5 by 7 kilometers. Overall, Ukrainian forces advanced about 5 kilometers to this new "gray zone," which is still forming. These are quite good results, considering all the other factors related to this operation.

An important element of this offensive was the active use of electronic warfare (EW) tools. This reminds me of the early days of Ukrainian entry into the Kursk region, when experts later called it a digital blitzkrieg because the Russian communications were disrupted, and drones couldn't be used. It seems that this tactic and these measures were used again. Russian drones approached Ukrainian equipment and lost connection with their operators. However, Russian fiber-optic drones attacked our equipment. Despite this, they were unable to inflict decisive damage or halt the advance of Ukrainian units.

Russian military correspondents commented quite hysterically on the Ukrainian advance. They also made a lot of videos showing supposed strikes and the destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment, but analysis of these videos has already been done. It turns out that these are actually edited archival clips from various combat operations in the Kursk region, with the majority showing Russian equipment, not Ukrainian.

We know that Ukrainian forces launched attacks, but the Russians also attacked in other directions, including at Mala Loknya and Sverdlykove, which are the western part of the Ukrainian bridgehead. These two settlements are crucial defense points to prevent the enemy from advancing towards Sudza, which is extremely important for us because it is the city from which the road to Sumy begins and through which Ukrainian grouping in the Kursk region is supplied.  

In the direction of Mala Loknya, the Russian forces attacked from Novoivanivka. There is a video showing four Russian BMDs being destroyed about 2 kilometers from Mala Loknya. This was the work of Ukrainian paratroopers, who fully utilized their weaponry to prevent the Russians from advancing, which attacked from the south near Makhnivka.

Interestingly, there was a video showing North Korean soldiers forcing elderly Russians out of their homes in the Kursk region to seek shelter from the cold and Ukrainian drones in the settlement of Makhnivka, where fighting is also ongoing.

I focus on these directions, where clashes with the Russian troops took place, because they indicate the dynamic changes in this area. It's still hard to predict what will happen tomorrow on this bridgehead. However, one can conclude that the advance of Ukrainian units to the north is intended to force the Russian army to shift to a defensive position on another front, pulling more forces and reinforcements from other areas to this new front where the Ukrainian army is operating.

This should, in a way, disrupt the Russian plans, as they are still trying to create conditions for pressure on Sudza from various directions. We understand that sometimes military assessments of this front take a backseat to military-political considerations, as this bridgehead is critically important.

Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a statement after the talks in South Korea, saying that Ukraine's strategic position in the Kursk region is crucial to the prospects of any future negotiations.

I think that this affects the decision of the Ukrainian political leadership to provide forces, means, and reserves to this area of the front line, which does not look easy, like any other area where combat operations with the enemy are underway.

Pokrovsk direction

The Pokrovsk direction is part of this area, where the Russian forces are trying to leverage its advantage in personnel and equipment. They are also attempting to advance towards Pokrovsk, not only through frontal attacks but also by applying pressure on the western and eastern flanks, getting closer to logistical routes and complicating supply to Pokrovsk.

However, it is still too early to draw conclusions, as these actions have not yet affected the supply to Pokrovsk. Although artillery, guided bombs, and Russian drones are reaching the city, and, of course, Ukrainian units and brigades are active there, holding back the Russian advance.

Viacheslav, the commander of the strike drone unit of the 68th Separate Brigade Shershni Dovbusha from the Pokrovsk direction, shared that the enemy is constantly wearing itself down, conducting rotations, and replenishing its personnel. The number of Russian offensive actions has not decreased, and they continue with assaults, though it is becoming increasingly difficult for them. In front of Pokrovsk, where the 68th Brigade holds the front line, the occupiers have not achieved success. They have now intensified their efforts to the west, trying to advance by bypassing the city.

The commander of the UAV unit noted that the pilots and crews work around the clock, constantly rotating, and when deployed, they maximize their efforts. In October 2024, the Shershni Dovbusha unit ranked second among all strike units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the team working hard and destroying a significant number of Russian targets. There is a system for accumulating points for Russian personnel, equipment, and munitions, all of which are officially recorded with video confirmation. However, this is not a competition; the guys are doing everything to protect Ukrainian land and destroy the invaders who came to our country. The number of Russian soldiers destroyed by the 68th Brigade unit has reached over 7,500, along with 200 pieces of various equipment.

The serviceman noted that some manufacturers are listening and providing ready-made drones based on the unit's requests. Many volunteers are also working to provide what is needed. However, there is still a large percentage of drones that need further modification, so the military UAV unit invests its own money, as it is not only about defending Ukraine but also preserving their own lives. In December 2023, the unit spent over 1.5 million UAH of their own funds to upgrade and modify drones, ensuring they have the necessary equipment for active use of unmanned systems. Currently, there is a fundraising campaign on the Shershni Dovbusha Telegram channel for fiber-optic drones, which the enemy will not be able to intercept or jam.