Will Ross

Kurochov is not a big city. It had a pre-war population of about 22,000. It's largely in ruins now, of course, like all the towns and cities that Russia is fighting over. We were expecting this. About two weeks ago, Kiev said it had withdrawn some units from the area to prevent them from being encircled.

Kurochov is not a big city. It had a pre-war population of about 22,000. It's largely in ruins now, of course, like all the towns and cities that Russia is fighting over. We were expecting this. About two weeks ago, Kiev said it had withdrawn some units from the area to prevent them from being encircled.

Much more important and potentially much more of a loss to Ukraine would be if Russia takes the strategic city of Pokrovsk. That's an important transport hub not far from Kurochov. So, you know, this is a blow to Ukraine. But things are bad overall for the country. You know, Russia's taken a large number of settlements in eastern Ukraine in recent days and weeks.

Much more important and potentially much more of a loss to Ukraine would be if Russia takes the strategic city of Pokrovsk. That's an important transport hub not far from Kurochov. So, you know, this is a blow to Ukraine. But things are bad overall for the country. You know, Russia's taken a large number of settlements in eastern Ukraine in recent days and weeks.

Well, last year, Russia took a large amount of territory, at least 2,000 square kilometres, perhaps more according to some estimates. Now, that's still a tiny fraction, less than 1% of Ukraine's overall territory, but it is the fastest pace since the early days of the war.

Well, last year, Russia took a large amount of territory, at least 2,000 square kilometres, perhaps more according to some estimates. Now, that's still a tiny fraction, less than 1% of Ukraine's overall territory, but it is the fastest pace since the early days of the war.

So, you know, things in the east of Ukraine are not good for Ukrainian forces and it doesn't look like it's getting any better.

So, you know, things in the east of Ukraine are not good for Ukrainian forces and it doesn't look like it's getting any better.

Yeah, it's difficult to know what exactly is going on in the Kursk region. What we do know is that yesterday Ukraine launched a fresh offensive in the area. That was confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian officials and pro-Kremlin officials. military bloggers. Some of those bloggers said that Russian forces had come under intense pressure by the offensive.

Yeah, it's difficult to know what exactly is going on in the Kursk region. What we do know is that yesterday Ukraine launched a fresh offensive in the area. That was confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian officials and pro-Kremlin officials. military bloggers. Some of those bloggers said that Russian forces had come under intense pressure by the offensive.

But there hasn't been any sign yet that the Ukrainians are making significant advances. Usually by this time, you know, 24 hours plus after the beginning of operation, if it were successful, we'd expect some update about forces moving forward, perhaps seizing some settlements in the area. There's been no indication of that so far.

But there hasn't been any sign yet that the Ukrainians are making significant advances. Usually by this time, you know, 24 hours plus after the beginning of operation, if it were successful, we'd expect some update about forces moving forward, perhaps seizing some settlements in the area. There's been no indication of that so far.

So something is definitely happening in the Kursk area, but it's difficult to establish what the exact state of play is.

So something is definitely happening in the Kursk area, but it's difficult to establish what the exact state of play is.

Well, that may well have played into it, into the decision to launch an offensive, although, again, we don't know how successful it's been so far or will be in the coming days. I'm sure that both sides, Russia and Ukraine, are keen to take as much territory as possible before Donald Trump takes his seat in the Oval Office.

Well, that may well have played into it, into the decision to launch an offensive, although, again, we don't know how successful it's been so far or will be in the coming days. I'm sure that both sides, Russia and Ukraine, are keen to take as much territory as possible before Donald Trump takes his seat in the Oval Office.

The Ukrainians also will be keen to show the present elect that they are capable of mounting offensive operations, of going on the attack, and that they are capable of securing victories, even relatively small ones.

The Ukrainians also will be keen to show the present elect that they are capable of mounting offensive operations, of going on the attack, and that they are capable of securing victories, even relatively small ones.

It's still in its very early hours, really. We heard earlier from the Russian Defense Ministry who said that the Ukrainians had launched an attack at around 8 a.m. local time and that fighting was ongoing. And we also heard from the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak.

It's still in its very early hours, really. We heard earlier from the Russian Defense Ministry who said that the Ukrainians had launched an attack at around 8 a.m. local time and that fighting was ongoing. And we also heard from the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak.