Fierce fighting continues for a second day in the Kursk region of Russia after Ukraine launched a counterattack on Sunday. While Kyiv claims that the multi-directional attack was a surprise to the Russians, Moscow states that it responded to the attack with artillery and air force, and Russian troops thwarted an attempt by Ukraine to penetrate.
According to unverified reports, the losses in Kursk are huge on both sides. The Ukrainian army claims that 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and 23,000 wounded since the start of the incursion in August. On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense says that Ukraine has lost at least 49,000 soldiers, without specifying the number of deaths or injuries.
On the front, the Ukrainian army announced that they are still fighting in Kurahove, an industrial city in eastern Ukraine, the capture of which was claimed by Russia on Monday.
It has also been reported that "dozens" of Ukrainian soldiers deserted while training in France, with a French official stating, however, that the number of desertions is insignificant compared to the number of individuals who underwent training.
Furthermore, Ukraine and Russia have reached a "preliminary agreement" to conduct regular prisoner exchanges throughout the year, prioritizing the return of severely ill or injured prisoners of war.
We also note a nearly three-hour discussion between Volodymyr Zelensky and Lex Fridman, one of the most popular podcast hosts in the USA, born in the former Soviet Union. During the interview, Zelensky let his guard down several times, uttered a few profanities, and talked about his former top comedian career in Ukraine. And when asked if Putin should be forgiven, he firmly stated, "No one will forgive him" and exemplified: "They took your child. You'll ask 'who did this?' and they'll say 'that guy did it,' and you'll say 'oh, then I have nothing more to say.' No, no, no. You'll go and tear their heads off, and that's how it should be done."
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Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted between December 2-17, after three years of war, 52% of Ukrainians still have confidence in Volodymyr Zelensky, a figure that has decreased compared to the end of 2023 (77%).
What's happening on the front
- Ukraine stands firm at Kurahove - The Ukrainian army announced on Tuesday that they are still fighting in Kurahove, an industrial city in eastern Ukraine, the capture of which was claimed by Russia on Monday. Russian forces announced on Monday that they raised the flag in this city, which had approximately 18,000 residents before the war and represented an important defensive position for Ukrainian forces in the south of an industrial region in the east of the country. This loss has not been confirmed by Ukraine. Tuesday morning, the Khortytsia military group, fighting in the area, declared that "in the Kurakhove area, defense forces are opposing the enemy's attempts to use their superiority and develop an offensive. Measures to locate and destroy enemy assault groups that have infiltrated our combat formations are underway."
- Clashes in Donbas - At the same time, armed clashes were taking place in other localities in Donbas, reports AFP. The Ukrainian General Staff indicated in its daily report that they repelled 26 Russian attacks in the last day, including in Kurakhove. A battle map compiled by the DeepState military blog, close to the Ukrainian army, shows the entire Kurakhove under Russian control.
- Regular prisoner exchange - Ukraine and Russia have reached a "preliminary agreement" to conduct regular prisoner exchanges throughout the year, focusing on the return of severely ill or injured prisoners of war, reports The Kyiv Independent.
What's happening in Russia
- Fierce fighting in Kursk - Fierce fighting is taking place for a second day in the Kursk region of Russia after Ukraine launched a counterattack on Sunday, reports BBC. Moscow stated that it responded to the attack with artillery and air force, and on Monday claimed that Russian troops thwarted an attempt by Ukraine to penetrate. According to the source, a Ukrainian assault detachment consisting of two tanks, a military engineering vehicle, and 12 armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) reportedly attacked near the village of Berdin around 09:00 (06:00 GMT) on Sunday, and Russian forces retaliated, destroying both tanks, the military engineering vehicle, and seven armored fighting vehicles. Additionally, an aerial video recording showing a column of armored vehicles moving in broad daylight through snow-covered rural areas under fire, with vehicles being hit, was published by the Russian state news agency Ria. Andriy Kovalenko, the top Ukrainian official in charge of countering disinformation, stated in a Telegram post: "The Russians in Kursk are experiencing great anxiety because they were attacked from multiple directions, and it was a surprise for them."
- North Koreans killed - The Special Operations Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced on Tuesday the deaths of 13 North Korean soldiers in the Russian Kursk region, reports EFE. The statement, published on Telegram and accompanied by several photos of dead soldiers, identity documents, and communication equipment. Five of the North Korean soldiers fighting alongside the Russians were killed in a confrontation with light weapons, and eight others with the help of drones. One of them could be an officer.
- Casualties in Kursk - The Ukrainian army declared on Monday that 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and 23,000 wounded in Kursk since the start of the incursion in August. The day before, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine had lost at least 49,010 soldiers in Kursk, without specifying the number of deaths or injuries. The figures could not be independently verified.
- Putin at Christmas service - Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Christmas service on Monday evening - celebrated by many Orthodox Christians according to the old Julian calendar - in a church in Victory Park in Moscow, alongside veterans of the war in Ukraine, reports EFE. Putin, who professes to be a believer and was secretly baptized during the Soviet Union, participated in a religious service at a church inaugurated in 1995, commemorating 50 years since the victory over Nazi Germany. In addition to attending the service, Putin lit some candles and prayed alongside others, then moved to the Christ the Savior Cathedral, where Patriarch Kirill officiated the Christmas service for the entire country. Putin requested to have his initials engraved on some of the crosses that Kirill blessed and that will be sent to soldiers fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. Kirill promised that those who died in battle would have their sins forgiven.
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Other relevant information
- Putin forgiven? Zelensky's reaction - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visibly irritated when Lex Fridman, one of the most popular podcast hosts in the United States, suggested that a compromise with Vladimir Putin was needed. "So, in your opinion, the fact that (Putin) is not in jail after so many crimes and no one in this world can put him in his place, send him to jail, do you think that's a small compromise?" reacted the Ukrainian president. He also reacted strongly when asked if Putin should be forgiven. "They took your child. You'll ask 'who did this?' and they'll say 'that guy did it,' and you'll say 'oh, then I have nothing more to say.' No, no, no. You'll go and tear their heads off, and that's how it should be done," said Zelensky. Details HERE.
- Zelensky's popularity - Ukrainians still overwhelmingly support the work of President Volodymyr Zelensky, nearly three years after the Russian invasion, although the percentage has significantly decreased in 2024, according to the results of a survey published on Tuesday by a specialized institute in Kyiv, reports AFP. Thus, at the end of 2024, 52% of the Ukrainians surveyed stated that they have confidence in Volodymyr Zelensky, a figure that has significantly decreased compared to the end of 2023 (77%). The survey was conducted on a sample of 2,000 individuals living in the territory under Ukrainian control, between December 2 and 17, about a month after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections.
- Desertions in France - A French official confirmed to AFP that "dozens" of Ukrainian soldiers deserted while undergoing military training in France. They were serving in the Mechanized Brigade 155 "Anna of Kiev" and were undergoing military training in France. "There were a certain number of desertions, but these remain insignificant compared to the number of individuals who underwent training," said the Ukrainian official quoted by AFP. And Mykhailo Drapatyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, acknowledged significant challenges faced by the Mechanized Brigade 155 "Anna of Kiev," trained by the French, including desertions and poor organization.
- Trump's envoy postpones visit - Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who is set to be Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, had initially planned a mission to Ukraine in early January to meet with Ukrainian leaders, but postponed his informational visit to Kyiv and other European capitals until after the inauguration of the elected president on January 20, according to four sources familiar with the trip planning, reports Reuters. His team was also scheduling meetings with officials in other European capitals, including Rome and Paris. However, the trip - marking the first occasion when Trump associates would have gone, after the November 5 elections, to get in touch with the realities in Kyiv - was postponed, the sources said. It is now expected that General Kellogg will travel to Ukraine after Trump assumes office, although no exact date has been set, the sources said. The reason for Kellogg's postponement is unknown.
- Lukashenko's Explanations - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko reacted after 15 hours since the interview in which Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the Belarusian leader called him in the early days of the war to apologize. Natalya Eismont, Lukashenko's press secretary, said that the discussion between the two did indeed take place shortly after the start of the war, "due to the emotional reaction of Lukashenko's youngest son, Nikolai, who had Zelensky's personal contact in his phone." Eismont further stated that the Belarusian President did not apologize because he had no reason to apologize. Moreover, Lukashenko reportedly suggested starting negotiations with Russia.
- Slovakia Threatens, Poland Assists - Poland is ready to provide electricity to Ukraine, said the Minister of Climate and Environment of this country, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, referring to threats that Slovakia could cut off electricity supplies to its neighbor, Reuters reports. "Poland will be able to increase electricity sales to Ukraine, but only if Ukraine requests it. Our operator is prepared, it's just a matter of whether Ukraine will want or need it. Fico's behavior is against Europe," Hennig-Kloska stated. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said last week that his party will consider halting electricity supplies to Ukraine, reducing aid to refugees, and requesting the renewal of gas transit or compensation for the losses Slovakia claims to have suffered due to the cessation of Russian gas flows through Ukraine.
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