Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast

Ukrainian troops reportedly launched attacks against Russian forces in multiple directions in Kursk Oblast on Jan. 5, as claimed by Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center. Pro-war Russian Telegram channels and the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed increased Ukrainian activity, with Moscow stating it repelled two offensives. Kyiv has not officially announced any new operations in the region. These developments follow months of intensified combat in Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine holds a small portion of territory, seeking leverage in potential negotiations.

Roman Alyokhin, a Russian blogger, reported Ukrainian advances northeast of Sudzha toward Bolshoye Soldatskoye, involving armored vehicles and demining equipment. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov visited Kursk, though his visit's purpose remains unclear. This comes amid reports of heavy casualties among North Korean troops deployed by Russia, with over 1,000 reportedly lost in a week of "human wave" assaults.

The situation in Toretsk remains very tense and chaotic

According to Deep State, the situation in Toretsk remains critical, with intense and chaotic combat reported between Ukrainian Defense Forces and advancing Russian units. The proximity of opposing positions has led to close-quarters engagements, with firefights occurring between rooms in buildings. Russian forces are actively infiltrating the city, using debris and houses as cover, complicating Ukrainian targeting efforts.

The fiercest battles are concentrated in the city center, particularly near the "Central" mine and the "Zabalko" neighborhood, where Russian advances vividly illustrate the described chaos. Additionally, Russian forces are attempting to push toward Shcherybynivka, with multiple movements toward the village recorded, though their assaults have so far been limited and one-sided.

Russia is preparing three bridgeheads for an offensive

Military expert Vladyslav Seleznyov stated during a Radio NV broadcast that Russian forces are reportedly striving to establish conditions for capturing the entire Donetsk region. According to Seleznyov, this aligns with Russia's strategic objective to secure key areas in preparation for a potential spring-summer offensive campaign targeting the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk urban agglomeration.

Seleznyov outlined three primary directions for Russian efforts to create bridgeheads: the Lyman direction, the area around Chasiv Yar, and the southeastern region encompassing Pokrovsk and Toretsk. He emphasized that the success of these plans hinges on the resources available to both the Russian military and the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Seleznyov noted that a potential attack on the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk area would aim to advance Putin's overarching strategy, but its success remains uncertain due to resource constraints and resistance from Ukrainian forces.