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Russia has began a big counteroffensive to push again Ukrainian forces from its southern Kursk area, in keeping with Russian and Ukrainian officers.
The Russian defence ministry on Thursday stated its forces had retaken 10 settlements in Kursk, or about 63 sq km of land, marking the primary main drive by Moscow to recapture territories after Ukrainian troops stormed throughout the border in a shock assault final month.
The Russian counteroffensive on its soil comes as Moscow’s troops have been making regular beneficial properties in japanese Ukraine, approaching the logistical hub of Pokrovsk. On Thursday, a Russian missile additionally hit a foreign-flagged cargo ship within the Black Sea carrying wheat sure for Egypt shortly after it left Ukrainian waters, eroding belief within the security of a key commerce artery that’s essential each for world meals provides and Ukraine’s financial system.
Ukrainian forces have been searching for to consolidate the territorial beneficial properties made in Russia and carried out extra drone strikes, together with within the Moscow area, the place two house buildings have been hit this week. Russian authorities on Tuesday reported the primary civilian casualty within the Moscow area from a drone assault for the reason that begin of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine within the spring of 2022.
The Russian counteroffensive in Kursk has homed in on the left flank of the Ukrainian contingent within the space, from the settlement of Krasnooktyabrskoe right down to the Russian-Ukrainian border cities of Snagost and Gordeevka.
Russian forces have additionally captured at the least 10 Ukrainian troopers, in keeping with drone footage shared on social media.
“The [Ukrainians] have been squeezed on their western flank right down to Snagost, and surprisingly simply. It appears the [Ukrainians] actually didn’t have main forces there,” stated an individual near the Russian navy institution.
However there had been no additional motion since, the particular person stated, and it remained unclear whether or not the push marked a big turning level.
A western analyst who didn’t wish to be recognized because the scenario was nonetheless unclear stated Russia appeared to have taken at the least one Ukrainian unit abruptly.
Ukraine might all the time reply with a counterattack, and was unlikely to be pushed out of Kursk fully within the close to future because it has higher brigades in different areas, the particular person stated. “However their territorial maintain could lower.”
A senior Ukrainian navy intelligence official described the Russian beneficial properties in Kursk as purely tactical and stated the push couldn’t be described as a large-scale assault.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the Russian assault on Thursday however stated “the whole lot was going in keeping with Ukraine’s plan”.
Ukrainian forces entered Russia in a shock assault on August 6, capturing about 1,200 sq km within the area of 10 days and marking the primary incursion into Russian territory for the reason that second world battle. Since then, dealing with Russian resistance, they’ve edged ahead about 100 sq km.
Zelenskyy stated final week that he meant for Ukrainian troops to remain in Kursk indefinitely, indicating a hope to make use of the seized territory as a bargaining chip in any future peace negotiations — notably relating to the destiny of swaths of Ukrainian land at current occupied and claimed by Russia.
Ukraine additionally hoped the Kursk incursion would divert Russia’s best-trained troops away from their frontline positions within the Donetsk area of japanese Ukraine — however that has not to date materialised.
The counteroffensive in Kursk is being carried out by Russian infantry assault and marine brigades that have been pulled from different areas resembling Kherson, in keeping with the senior Ukrainian navy intelligence official. Russia has despatched near 38,000 troops to the Kursk area, the particular person stated.
In Donetsk area, the place Russian forces have been making regular beneficial properties, two-thirds of Pokrovsk residents have now been evacuated, in keeping with town’s authorities, whereas about 24,000 stay.
Three employees of the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross have been killed on Thursday whereas getting ready to distribute humanitarian help within the northern Donetsk village of Viroliubivka, in keeping with an announcement by the organisation.
Zelenskyy on Thursday stated a Russian missile had struck the Egypt-bound cargo ship which had left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk on Wednesday with greater than 26,000 tonnes of wheat.
Info on Marine Visitors, the vessel-tracking web site, confirmed that the ship named Aya made a pointy course change, suggestive of a missile strike, at 11pm native time on Wednesday whereas in Romania’s maritime financial zone.
The ship “sustained harm to its port facet, together with a cargo maintain and a crane”, stated Ambrey, a maritime safety agency. “In keeping with AIS information, the vessel managed to sail to Romania beneath its personal energy, indicating that its propulsion system was not compromised.”
Zelenskyy stated there have been no casualties, including that Ukraine was “ready for the world to react”.
“Wheat and meals safety ought to by no means be targets for missiles,” he stated.
Extra reporting by Robert Wright in London
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