Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia’s region of Kursk. But it’s not clear why exactly Ukraine is waging a new assault in Kursk, and why now.

Russian forces continue to make costly but consistent gains in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. They are steadily grinding down a pocket of resistance around the town of Kurakhove and are also fighting to envelop the larger nearby city of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian soldiers and officials said.

Ukraine launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region Sunday, Moscow and Kyiv said. Ukrainian forces had captured about 500 square miles of the western Russian province in a surprise incursion in August, but Russian and North Korean troops are believed to have retaken 40-50% of that area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will urge allies to boost his country's air defenses at a meeting this week in Germany

Russia said Sunday that Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" in the western border region of Kursk, where Kyiv's forces began a shock ground offensive last August.

Russia has launched a new offensive on Kyiv, the Ukrainian military reported late Wednesday (Jan 8). Of the 64 Shahed-type drones, Ukraine air defence has reportedly shot down 41 with 22 enemy decoy drones lost locally.

Russia launched 64 Shahed-type drones over Ukrainian territory. Air defense forces successfully shot down 41 enemy drones, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. According to the Air Force,

Ukraine's defence forces have struck the Kombinat Kristal oil storage facility in the city of Engels in Russia's Saratov Oblast. Source: Ukraine's General Staff Details: Numerous explosions were recorded in the target area and a large-scale fire broke out.