### Ukraine Loses Ground in Kursk as Russian Counteroffensive Gains Momentum

Ukrainian honor guards carried the coffin of fallen serviceman Serhii Solovyov at a funeral in Irpin on November 21, 2024, a solemn reminder of the ongoing conflict. Ukraine has reported significant territorial losses in Russia’s Kursk region, with over 40% of the area reclaimed by Russian forces following Ukraine's surprise incursion in August.

A senior Ukrainian military source disclosed that Russia has deployed approximately 59,000 troops to the Kursk region, intensifying counterattacks that have drastically reduced the territory under Ukrainian control from an initial 1,376 square kilometers to roughly 800 square kilometers.

The Kursk offensive marked the first time a foreign power launched a ground invasion of Russia since World War II, taking Moscow by surprise. Kyiv's strategic aim was to divert Russian forces from eastern and northeastern Ukraine, disrupt advances in the east, and strengthen its position in potential peace negotiations. Despite these efforts, Russian forces continue to make headway in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin's main objectives are to capture the entire Donbas area, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to expel Ukrainian troops from Kursk. Zelenskyy alluded to a January 20 deadline, coinciding with Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration as U.S. president, as a critical date for Putin to showcase control over the situation.

In an escalating development, around 11,000 North Korean troops have reportedly arrived in the Kursk region to bolster Russian forces. However, the majority are still undergoing final stages of training. The Pentagon chief has indicated that these troops are expected to join the conflict soon.

With Russian forces advancing in various Ukrainian regions, Kyiv is struggling to reinforce besieged fronts and brace for impending assaults. The Kurakhove region faces a particularly dire situation, with Russian troops advancing 200 to 300 meters daily, supported by armored vehicles and anti-drone defenses. Kurakhove is strategically vital as it paves the way toward the crucial logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Current estimates from Ukraine suggest that Russia has about 575,000 troops engaged in combat within Ukrainian territory, with plans to increase this number to 690,000. Russia has not disclosed its troop numbers, and these figures have not been independently verified.

In a bid to cripple Russian logistics, Ukraine has been targeting Russian weapons and ammunition depots, airfields, and other military assets deep within Russian territory. This comes after U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly allowed Kyiv to use U.S.-supplied missiles against such targets in response to North Korea's involvement. Recent missile strikes include the deployment of U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, hitting targets as far as 110 kilometers inside Russia.

As the conflict heightens, Ukraine seeks advanced air defense systems from the United States and Britain to protect its cities from new long-range threats. Enhanced air defenses are already being deployed over Kyiv, with plans for similar measures in Sumy and Kharkiv, which are near the front lines.

Currently, Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine. Putin has made it clear that he demands Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join NATO and withdraw from four partially occupied regions, conditions that Kyiv has outright rejected.