MOSCOW — Russian forces have captured two villages in the western Kursk region, according to Major General Apti Alaudinov, a senior commander of Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces and deputy head of the Russian defense ministry’s military-political department. The advance comes as Russian forces continue to push back against a major Ukrainian offensive that breached the Russian border in August.
The villages of Nikolayevo-Darino and Darino, located about 15 kilometers from former Ukrainian front lines, provide Russian forces a strategic position to target Sverdlikovo, a key logistical center for Ukrainian troops. Alaudinov stated, “Our entire front has moved forward,” noting that Russian forces are also advancing in eastern Ukraine.
In early August, Ukraine launched its largest attack on Russian soil since World War II, penetrating the Kursk region with support from drones and heavy weaponry, including Western-supplied arms. In response, Russia has mounted a counteroffensive, reclaiming territory and advancing on multiple fronts.
Russia, which seized around 18% of Ukraine’s territory since its 2022 invasion, continues to make gains in eastern Ukraine, including the capture of the town of Ukrainsk earlier this week. Ukrainian forces, in a parallel effort, are attempting to break through Russian lines in other areas to shift Russian forces from the main battlegrounds.
The ongoing conflict remains fluid, with both sides intensifying operations along various fronts as the war enters its second year.