Situation at a glance: Before the expected Kursk offensive: Ukraine demands a free hand

Ahead of Russia’s expected counter-offensive in the Russian border area near Kursk, Ukraine is calling on its supporters to change course. The USA, Great Britain and Germany must allow the use of the long-range weapons they provide against targets deep in Russian territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wrote on Telegram. “This is essential. The further our missiles and drones can hit, the less real combat capability will have Russia.”

Two and a half years after the start of the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine began its surprise offensive on Kursk in August. Although Russia has been able to recapture some settlements since then, the front line has changed little recently. Due to the lack of permission from its Western allies, Ukraine has so far only used combat drones against targets on Russian territory.

According to US media reports, Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers in the frontline area, including recently arrived troops from North Korea. A counteroffensive should be launched with them near Kursk in the coming days. Zelensky had already said a few days ago that some of the 11,000 North Korean soldiers in the Russian border region of Kursk were involved in fighting with the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine: 50,000 Russian soldiers tied up near Kursk

According to Zelensky, Ukraine is tying down around 50,000 Russian soldiers in the frontline area due to the advance of its troops near Kursk. These could not be used at other Russian front positions on Ukrainian territory. The attacks on Russian weapons depots also reduced the occupiers’ artillery stocks, which was noticeable in the combat area. The information could not initially be independently verified.

Trump turns critics of Ukraine aid into security advisors

Meanwhile, it is becoming increasingly clear that after the change of government in the USA, Ukraine must be prepared for a drastic reduction or even an end to aid from its largest supporter. US President-elect Donald Trump hinted at this possibility during the election campaign – and, according to media reports, now wants to fill the important post of national security advisor with Republican MP Mike Waltz. Waltz has already called for a rethink of US support for Ukraine in the Russian war of aggression.

Last year, in an opinion piece on Fox News, he wrote with a view to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives: “The era of blank checks for Ukraine from Congress is over.” Among other things, he argued that European countries had to make an even greater contribution. At the same time, Waltz said that the USA had the leverage against Russia to lift restrictions on the use of American weapons supplied to Ukraine.

Trump announced during the election campaign that he would quickly end the war in Ukraine. He hasn’t yet said how he wants to achieve this. Outgoing US President Joe Biden and the Ukrainian leadership fear that under Trump US military aid to Ukraine, thanks to which the defenders were able to prevent larger-scale conquests by the Russian invaders, could dry up.

Borrell: “Ukraine is part of the European family”

Meanwhile, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell pledged further support for the attacked country during a visit to Kiev. “We must continue to stand firmly on Ukraine’s side. Until it gets its way,” he wrote on Platform X. “Ukraine is part of the European family.” At a meeting, he promised Zelensky that the goal of delivering one million artillery shells would be achieved by the end of the year.

Ukraine in the East under heavy pressure

Meanwhile, the pressure on Ukraine is growing on the battlefield: Because of the advancing Russian troops, the forced evacuation of ten other towns in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv was ordered. “The enemy is constantly shelling our civilian settlements there,” said Governor Oleh Synjehubov, explaining the measure on Ukrainian television. A good 6,500 people have been evacuated since September 10th, he said.

The area was liberated in autumn 2022 as part of a Ukrainian counteroffensive after a good five months of occupation. In recent weeks, Ukrainian troops have come under increasing pressure due to the increased use of Russian glide bombs in the region.

According to the pro-government Ukrainian military channel “Deep State”, the defenders are threatened with a catastrophe near Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine. The city is already surrounded on three sides. Meanwhile, the Russian units tried to cut off supplies and encircle the Ukrainian military stationed there, the military experts said. The situation of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk region has been deteriorating rapidly since the beginning of August.

Russian troops carried out 125 attacks on Ukrainian defense lines in eastern Ukraine during the day, as the General Staff in Kiev announced in its evening situation report. 21 Russian attacks were reported in the Kurachove region. There were 14 fights of “varying intensity” near Pokrovsk. This information could not be independently verified either.

Ukraine is expanding drone defenses

In order to better protect its own airspace against Russian attacks, the Ukrainian military leadership has decided, among other things, to strengthen the existing mobile troops to combat drones, Zelensky said in his evening video message. Air alerts were raised in a number of Ukrainian cities late Monday evening because of new Russian drone swarms.