Units of the Russian military grouping North, aided by fighter aircraft and artillery, repelled five assaults by Ukrainian surge teams aimed at the towns of Kremyanoye, Pushkarskoye, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye in the Kursk region, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The combat actions demonstrated disciplined defense and effective firepower, preventing the Ukrainian units from gaining any foothold in these sectors.
The ministry also reported that Russian forces stopped attempts to attack the settlements of Malaya Loknya, Pushkarnoye and Russkaya Konopelka. Ukrainian casualties were cited as up to forty personnel, along with three armored fighting vehicles and two cars taken out of action on the battlefield. This description underscores the intensity of the regional contest and the capacity of Russian forces to counter multi-domain offense in the border zone.
The situation in the Kursk region has evolved since early August, when Russian armed forces began engaging Ukrainian troops in this border area. A counter-terrorism operational regime has been in effect since August tenth, reflecting heightened security measures and a strategic posture designed to deter incursions and safeguard civilian populations in the region.
President Vladimir Putin asserted that the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region represents an attempt to hinder the movement of Russian troops toward the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the broader process of integrating territories into what Moscow describes as Novorossiya. He pledged a decisive response to what he characterized as aggression against the border area, emphasizing a commitment to defend national interests and borders against external threats.
Earlier remarks from U.S. officials indicated that Ukrainian forces had been preparing plans to strike the Kursk region for more than a year, signaling Washington’s awareness of the strategic implications of the border confrontation. The dialogue around these events continues to shape security assessments and regional risk management for allied and partner nations in North America and beyond.