Ukrainian forces escalated their operations in Russia’s Kursk region over the weekend, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to seek stronger air defense support at an upcoming meeting in Germany.
In his Saturday night address, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of bolstering Ukraine’s ability to counter missiles, guided bombs, and Russian aircraft. The meeting of the Ramstein group, set to take place Thursday at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, will involve representatives from dozens of allied nations. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin is expected to attend.
The meeting, initially planned for October, was delayed due to Hurricane Milton’s impact in Florida. The Biden administration aims to expedite military aid deliveries to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Trump’s campaign claims of resolving the war within a day have raised questions about future U.S. support for Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Push in Kursk Region
Both Ukrainian and Russian officials reported renewed clashes in Russia’s Kursk region. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian forces inflicted heavy losses on Russian and North Korean troops near the village of Makhnovka. He stated that the Russian military lost a battalion comprising North Korean infantry and Russian paratroopers in recent battles.
This follows Zelenskyy’s earlier claim that 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or injured in Kursk since Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in August. While the incursion initially disrupted Russian operations, military analysts suggest it did not significantly alter the war’s dynamics, with Ukraine losing around 40% of the territory it had recaptured.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported a fresh Ukrainian offensive in Kursk on Sunday morning near the village of Berdin. It claimed to have repelled two attacks involving tanks, mine-clearance vehicles, and armored personnel carriers. However, Russian military bloggers suggested Moscow’s forces faced considerable pressure.
Ukrainian officials, including presidential adviser Andriy Yermak, hinted at positive developments in Kursk, with Yermak stating that Russia is “getting what it deserves.”
Casualties from Russian Strikes in Ukraine
Russian shelling over the weekend killed at least one person and injured another in the Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities said. In Nikopol, one person died, while six people were injured in Kherson from artillery fire originating from Russian-controlled areas across the Dnieper River.
In Semenivka, a border town in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, nine people were wounded by a guided bomb attack on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that 103 Russian drones targeted Ukraine overnight Sunday. Of these, 61 were intercepted, while 42 are believed to have been lost due to electronic jamming.
Russia’s Defense Ministry countered, claiming its forces shot down 61 Ukrainian drones over western Russia during the same period. In the Rostov region, falling debris damaged residential buildings and cars, though no casualties were reported.
The Bigger Picture
Russia continues to control approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, advancing slowly in eastern regions despite significant troop and equipment losses. The war’s trajectory has presented challenges for Ukraine, which remains dependent on Western military aid.
As the conflict approaches its third year, Zelenskyy remains focused on securing international support to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s ongoing aggression.