KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces launched a new cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region over the weekend, in a surprise escalation that marks a significant tactical setback for President Vladimir Putin just days ahead of Russia’s annual Victory Day commemorations.
The operation, which Ukrainian military officials confirmed on Sunday, saw coordinated armored incursions and pincer assaults that breached Russian defensive lines near the villages of Zvannoe and Tetkino. The offensive comes amid mounting pressure on the Kremlin to present a narrative of control and strength during the May 9 celebrations, a symbolic holiday marking the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany.
According to reports from Ukrainian and Russian military channels, Kyiv deployed mine-clearing vehicles along two axes to open corridors for armored units carrying elite paratroopers. Intense combat erupted as Ukrainian forces pressed forward, reportedly damaging bridges, administrative buildings, and industrial sites. At least 50 Ukrainian troops are believed to have crossed into Russian territory in the initial wave.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky said the operation had “achieved most of its goals,” though Kyiv has not released exact casualty figures or confirmed territorial gains. Local Russian authorities acknowledged that three people were killed during the fighting, while Russian war bloggers described “heavy battles” along the border zone.
The renewed incursion comes just days before a Kremlin-backed three-day ceasefire, set to begin May 8 in observance of Victory Day, when Russia holds its annual military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. President Putin had hoped to retake all Russian territory previously occupied by Ukrainian forces ahead of the event, but Kyiv’s renewed campaign undermines those ambitions.
Russia had declared a previous Ukrainian incursion into Kursk — which began in August 2024 — to be repelled successfully last month, with Moscow claiming it had driven out the last Ukrainian troops from its soil. Kyiv dismissed the assertion as “wishful thinking.”
At the height of the 2024 offensive, Ukrainian forces temporarily controlled nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory, prompting the evacuation of an estimated 130,000 residents from border villages. The latest operation appears to revive that strategy with new momentum.
In response to past Ukrainian advances, Russia reportedly deployed thousands of North Korean troops to the region to reinforce its lines — an unusual move that underscored the scale of manpower challenges Moscow faces amid prolonged warfare.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cast doubt on the sincerity of Russia’s announced ceasefire, pointing to the failure of previous truce agreements, including one proposed over Easter that quickly collapsed.
“We understand who we are dealing with. We do not believe them,” Zelensky said in a televised address.
Critics of the Kremlin, including exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, have accused Putin of using the ceasefire to shield foreign dignitaries expected to attend Victory Day events — notably Chinese President Xi Jinping — rather than to protect civilian lives. “Its goal is to shield the May celebrations, entice foreign guests to Moscow, and show the world a picture of a ‘stable Russia,’” Khodorkovsky said.
The renewed Ukrainian offensive has reverberated across Russia’s western borders, where NATO members are moving to bolster their defenses. Lithuania announced plans to allocate nearly £1 billion to reinforce its border with both Russia and Belarus, including the procurement of anti-tank mines and other deterrents.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said the measures aim to “block and slow down the actions of hostile states,” amid growing fears that conflict could spill into neighboring territories.
As Russia gears up for a highly choreographed Victory Day parade intended to project national unity and military prowess, the latest developments along the Kursk front highlight the persistent vulnerability of its borderlands — and the continued unpredictability of Ukraine’s battlefield strategy.
