Russia launches counterattack in Kursk region, reportedly seizing over 14 square miles in a day and threatening to surround Ukrainian troops

Russia launched a large-scale offensive in the Kursk region on Thursday, breaking through Ukrainian defenses, according to both Ukrainian and Russian sources. The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reports that Ukrainian forces may have lost up to 14.7 square miles of territory in just one day and warns of a potential encirclement of Ukrainian troops in certain areas. Here’s what we know so far about the latest developments on the Kursk front.

Russian forces have launched a new offensive in several areas in the Kursk region, where Ukraine’s cross-border operation has been ongoing for over two months. Geolocated footage shows clashes near the village of Zelenyi Shlyakh (Sudzhansky district) and four kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Olgovka (Korenevsky district), indicating that Russian troops have broken through Ukrainian defenses and advanced about five kilometers (over three miles).

The unofficial Telegram channel of the Russian army's “Sever” operational group writes that Russian forces breached Ukrainian lines, “captured five settlements, and surrounded at least two enemy battalions, cutting off two key supply and evacuation routes.”

Rybar, a Telegram channel run by a former Russian Defense Ministry employee, reported on Thursday that Russian forces had launched attacks in multiple areas of the Korenevsky and Sudzhansky districts. “By day’s end, Russian forward units reached Zelenyi Shlyakh, indicating that they have at least partially broken through Ukrainian defenses,” the post read. The channel also mentioned a Russian counterattack in the Korenevsky district, with Russian forces advancing toward Zelenyi Shlyakh from the direction of Olgovka and “liberating a significant portion of occupied territory.”

Rybar added that Russian forces have taken control of Novaya Sorochina and are “advancing” toward Malaya Loknya, while military blogger Boris Rozhin stated that Olgovka is now under Russian control.

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The offensive has also been confirmed by the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState, which works closely with the country’s Defense Ministry. DeepState reports that Russian forces “pushed through the left flank” of Ukraine’s grouping in the Kursk region, advancing even further than Russian Telegram channels suggested and reaching as far as Novoivanovka (Sudzhansky district). This forced not only frontline Ukrainian units but also artillery and drone operators, who are typically positioned behind the front lines, to fight back.

DeepState’s map shows a loss of 38 square kilometers (14.7 square miles) in the region. The outlet Agenstvo reported that this marks the largest single-day loss of territory in the Kursk region for Ukrainian forces since September 14. The Sever Telegram channel claims Russian forces have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in the past 24 hours.

DeepState also warned that some Ukrainian troops might be surrounded, raising concerns about “repeating past mistakes.” While the exact location wasn’t specified, based on battle maps, DeepState seems to be referring to Olgovka.