Russians in Kursk region ‘shaken’ as Ukraine launches new offensive

On Sunday, photographer and social activist Oleg Pogozhikh went to work at his studio in Kursk, western Russia, to the roar of explosions.

Early in the full-fledged conflict with Ukraine, the Kursk region, which is located along the border, was occasionally bombarded. In August of last year, Ukraine launched a daring invasion into the area, capturing several settlements. Much of the seized territory has since been retaken by Russia.

However, as Ukraine launched a new offensive in Kursk over the weekend, there have been resurgent fighting.

“Everything is as usual: missile warning sirens, explosions somewhere nearby”, Pogozhikh wrote on his Telegram feed, titled Eye of Kursk.

“Today it is especially loud. I’ve been shaking so much that it occasionally blocked out my ears while I’m in the studio. Close. So close that the question arises: what is the enemy trying to achieve? Of course, their goal is to spoil the holiday season, sow panic, distract attention”.

On the way to Kursk, Ukrainian forces began their new offensive at around nine o’clock in Sudzha, moving from their occupied territory to the villages of Berdin and Bolshoye Soldatskoye.

“Events began to occur earlier, namely after midnight”, Yan Furtsev, a local official with Russia’s liberal opposition party Yabloko, told Al Jazeera.

“The use of anti-missile defense systems resulted in explosions that were audible as missile threat warnings started to sound and explosions were reported on Kursk’s streets. However, this night saw more explosions than previous January nights, and even more so in December. In just over 24 hours, almost 16 missile warnings and one drone attack warnings were audible.

Amid the incursion, Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov travelled to Kursk and met the local governor. Although the reasons for his visit were not officially disclosed, it is thought he came to personally oversee the region’s defences.

Because the sound and shockwaves from downed drones and missiles are clearly carried throughout the city’s outskirts, Furtsev continued, adding that locals are becoming more anxious because the first week of January in Russia is a government holiday, making information available.

Not everyone who lives there is afraid to cower.

“Everything is quiet and good in Kursk”, Pogozhikh told Al Jazeera.

“I have faith in the Russian army.” It may be loud, but people are not worried. The attack of]enemy] troops seems to be only on Telegram. In reality, this is far from the truth. Life is going on as usual. Few people notice that Russia’s air defenses are shooting down their drones and missiles. Of course, when the enemy targets civilian objects and women, children and old folks die, it angers us a little”.

Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst at Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera the scale of Ukraine’s latest attack is “still small”.

“No significant gains have been made so far”, he said. This time, Russian forces are better prepared to defend themselves. However, it’s possible that what transpired was a distraction or test that would be followed by a major strike attempt, perhaps elsewhere.

He added that Ukraine needs “new successes on the ground” before the administration of United States President-elect Donald Trump begins, a moment many expect will shift the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war, possibly towards a ceasefire.

“The goals here are again political, not military, as in the Kursk operation in the summer”, said Ignatov.

Since February 2022, at least 398 civilians have been killed as a result of hostilities in Russian border regions, according to Russian officials’ reports in October.

The city of Kursk has historically been calmer, with one or two missile threat warnings appearing on occasion, according to Furtsev.

The border towns of Rylsk and Lgov, as well as the village of Ivanovskoye in the Rylsk district, were attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the second half of December and in the first days of January in general, leading to significant damage to the cities. The restoration of items that have been destroyed is still being worked on. In the border areas, people are more likely to die from attacks. A combat drone struck a 63-year-old man and killed him on January 3.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, Sunday’s incursion consisted of “two tanks, one counter-obstacle vehicle, and 12 armoured fighting vehicles”.

The Russian military has since claimed to have resisted the assault, destroying a portion of Ukraine’s infantry column with heavy aerial and artillery fire.

A significant pipeline that supplies Russia’s gas to Europe was taken over by Ukrainian troops in August of last year, including the town of Sudzha, where it is located. The two warring parties’ agreement expiring on January 1 caused the gas to stop flowing, though.

Ukraine seized mobile phones to deter remaining locals from reporting movements to the enemy while under the occupation of Sudzha, taking on the responsibility of upholding law and order and providing essentials like food, water, and medicine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, made a hint to NBC in a September interview that Kursk’s fate might influence upcoming ceasefire talks. In Kursk, displaced people from Sudzha began a small protest in November, accusing the authorities of failing to protect them.

Despite Ukraine’s initial success, Russia has slowly gained ground, with Sudzha itself being bombarded as Russia tries to reclaim it.

Despite the Kremlin rejecting all claims about North Korean troops, Russian forces in the area have reportedly received 12, 000 reinforcements from their ally, North Korea. The North Koreans have hardly ever been seen in public if they are present, keeping a low profile.

“There are all sorts of rumours”,&nbsp, Pogozhikh said.

“I’ve heard about the Koreans, but I take it as a story. However, it is true that the Russians were helped by the gods and the Almighty.

Still, Moscow’s military might have been unable to decisively rout the Ukrainians.

Source: Aljazeera