New maps seemingly show Ukraine’s latest advances within the Russian territory as Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to issue renewed pleas for more military aid.
American think tank the Institute for the Study of War released the maps on Sunday, showing Ukrainian forces reportedly launched new offensive operations in at least three areas in Kursk Oblast, making tactical advances on January 5. The region had already been the subject of a surprise attack by Ukraine in August, but over the past few months Russian forces had tried to claw back terrain.
Russian sources allege that Ukrainian forces launched multiple company-sized mechanised assaults in the Berdin-Novosotnitsky direction, deploying approximately a battalion’s worth of armoured vehicles in three waves of attack.
The same sources suggest that Ukrainian forces also escalated offensive operations towards Leonidovo and carried out a reinforced platoon-sized mechanised assault near Pushkarnoye.
Geolocated footage released on January 5 indicates that Ukrainian forces made progress in fields southwest and south of Berdin and entered the southern part of the settlement.
Russian military bloggers have shared updated maps of the Kursk area of operations, suggesting that Ukrainian forces occupy Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Martynovka, and Mikhaylovka as of January 5.
They also reported that Ukrainian forces recently entered Novosotnitsky (just east of Berdin) and advanced in fields west of Yamskaya Step and west of Novaya Sorochina.
Bloggers also suggest that Ukrainian forces have launched offensive operations near Nikolskiy and Alexandriya, as well as north of Russkaya Konopelka towards Pushkarnoye. However, this has not been confirmed.
This fresh offensive comes just two weeks before Donald Trump will be sworn into office for his second term as US president after promising on the campaign trail to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Meanwhile, Zelensky announced plans to call on allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defences during a meeting in Germany later this week. The Ramstein group meeting, set to take place at Ramstein Air Base, will see participation from dozens of partner countries.
Zelensky said: “Including those who can help boost our capabilities not only to defend against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation.”
He added that “we will discuss this with them and continue to persuade them”, reiterating the goal of strengthening Ukraine’s air defence.
