In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale offensive in the Kursk region, targeting Russian military airfields. According to sources in the Security Service of Ukraine, this overnight assault marked the most significant combined attack on Russia's air force infrastructure since the start of the full-scale war.

Russian officials confirmed that three military airfields were targeted, although local authorities did not immediately verify the attacks. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that their air defense forces successfully destroyed 117 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U missiles across eight regions, including Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, and Nizhny Novgorod.

As a result of these attacks and the ongoing Ukrainian military offensive, nearly 194,000 people from the Kursk and Belgorod regions are set to be evacuated. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov declared a state of emergency in the region due to the "daily Ukrainian attacks." The situation has led Ukrainian authorities to open a 24-hour hotline for Russian residents of the Kursk region, offering humanitarian aid and assistance with evacuation to Ukraine.

Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukrainian troops had made progress inside the Kursk region, advancing about a mile in different directions. The Ukrainian forces have also completed search-and-destroy operations in Sudzha, the main border town, implying that Ukraine now has full control over it.

However, reports from Russian pro-Kremlin military blogger accounts indicate that the situation remains tense. While Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their gains, they are also attempting to expand their zone of control. Some bloggers, such as Yury Podolyak, highlight that the enemy still holds the initiative and is gradually increasing their presence in the Kursk region. The situation, though stabilizing according to military blogger account Rybar, still witnesses intense fighting as Ukraine tries to break through Russian positions.

Ukrainian troops are reportedly pushing in multiple directions from Sudzha, specifically focusing on flanking the village of Korenevo to gain access to a key highway. Additionally, they are attempting to advance north towards Lgov, closer to the Kursk nuclear power station. However, these efforts are still several miles away from their targets.

Ukraine seems to have adjusted its tactics, shifting from small columns of armored vehicles to larger and more consolidated assaults. It is evident that Ukraine remains on the offensive in the Kursk region, while Russian troops fiercely resist their advances.

The situation in the Kursk region remains volatile, and both sides are locked in a struggle for control. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.