A dramatic video has surfaced, capturing the moment Ukrainian forces launched a devastating assault on Russian hide-outs in the Kursk region. The footage showcases Ukrainian paratroopers bombarding Russian positions near the village of Mala Loknya, located just eight miles from the border, using German Marder infantry fighting vehicles. The attack is part of Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russian territory, which has seen President Zelensky’s troops claim hundreds of square miles in a major setback for Moscow’s military leadership.
The Ukrainian campaign in the region, which began with a surprise attack on August 6, aims to create a buffer zone along the border to prevent future cross-border assaults by Russia. In just two weeks, Ukraine’s forces have seized more territory in Kursk than Russia managed to occupy in Ukraine during the entire year. The conflict has led to the mass evacuation of over 122,000 people from the area, according to Russian state news agencies.
Kyiv has also prioritized capturing Russian prisoners to bolster its ‘exchange fund’ for future prisoner swaps. Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, expressed hope earlier in the week that the ongoing operations would result in a significant number of Russian captives.
While the Ukrainian assault on Kursk has proven successful, with Russian forces suffering heavy losses, the situation is more challenging in Ukraine’s Donbas region. Russian forces continue their relentless push in Donetsk, particularly around the city of Pokrovsk. After six months of intense fighting, Ukraine has been forced to withdraw troops from key defensive positions, leaving the region in peril. Moscow’s objective remains the capture of both Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk, which together form the strategically important Donbas industrial region.