Ukrainian forces gain ground amid intensified battles in Kursk Oblast - ISW
Russian war7 January 2025, 08:15 AM
Analyst refrained from making any concrete predictions.
"Ukrainian troops recently achieved tactical successes while continuing intense offensive operations in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Jan. 6," they reported.
"Geolocated footage published on Jan. 5 and 6 shows Ukrainian forces advancing in southern Berdino, central Rusky Poperechny, and central Novosotnitskoye — all northeast of Sudzha."
The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian military bloggers claimed on Jan. 6 that Russian troops repelled a Ukrainian mechanized attack near Berdino and stopped Ukrainian assaults near Novosotnitskoye, involving forces from Rosgvardia's ‘Talib’ group.
"Russian bloggers reported that units clearing areas near Berdino and Novosotnitskoye included the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th Army Corps, Leningrad Military District), the 2nd Special Forces Brigade (GRU), the 11th Airborne Brigade (Air Assault Troops), and Chechen special forces ‘Akhmat’," ISW wrote.
A Russian blogger assessed the recent Ukrainian attacks in Kursk Oblast as an intensified reconnaissance effort within larger force operations, which might be a distraction maneuver ahead of future offensives.
"The escalation of Ukrainian offensive actions in Kursk Oblast could be the initial phase of a coordinated operation in this region or other combat zones. However, no precise forecasts can be made now," the report added.
ISW also noted that Russian forces attempted to use Ukrainian attacks northeast of Sudzha as an opportunity to advance on other sectors of the Kursk front on Jan. 6, though ISW could not confirm these reports.
Analysts suggested that Ukrainian forces continued conducting long-range strikes on Russian rear positions in Kursk Oblast, integrating strike capabilities to support ground operations. However, ISW could not independently verify these reports.
"ISW previously suggested that Ukrainian forces are working to integrate long-range precision strike capabilities and electronic warfare systems to support their ground operations," the analysts concluded.
Key ISW takeaways for Jan. 6:
- Ukrainian forces achieved tactical success in intense offensive operations in Kursk Oblast.
- Russian forces attempted to exploit Ukrainian attacks northeast of Sudzha to push forward in other areas of the Kursk front.
- Ukrainian troops might be continuing long-range strikes on Russian rear positions in Kursk Oblast to support ground operations.
- Reports suggest that on Jan. 3, Russian troops executed Ukrainian prisoners of war.
- Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, announced a preliminary agreement for a prisoner exchange in 2025.
- Leaders of the Chechen special forces and the Russian ‘Rusich’ sabotage-reconnaissance group met on Jan. 6, releasing a statement on "ethnic unity" in Russia.
- Russian forces advanced in the Lyman, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk directions, captured Kurakhove.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Jan. 5 that 3,800 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in Kursk Oblast.