Will Ross

He wrote on social media, he didn't entirely confirm that the operation had started, but he did hint at it, saying there was good news from the Kursk region and Russia was getting what it deserved. And I've also been reading some reports from Russia the pro-Kremlin military bloggers, they also have been reporting what they call a major operation by Ukraine.

He wrote on social media, he didn't entirely confirm that the operation had started, but he did hint at it, saying there was good news from the Kursk region and Russia was getting what it deserved. And I've also been reading some reports from Russia the pro-Kremlin military bloggers, they also have been reporting what they call a major operation by Ukraine.

But there's a lot, of course, we don't know. We don't know what scale this is on or whether it will make any difference whatsoever, really, to Ukraine's pretty tenuous position on the battlefield.

But there's a lot, of course, we don't know. We don't know what scale this is on or whether it will make any difference whatsoever, really, to Ukraine's pretty tenuous position on the battlefield.

Well, it's important because it's inside sovereign Russian territory, right, which creates a real headache for the Kremlin when you've got the Ukrainian army not only not surrendering and not being destroyed on their own territory, but actually attacking and pushing deep inside Russian territory, seizing towns and villages. When Ukraine launched this pretty surprise incursion

Well, it's important because it's inside sovereign Russian territory, right, which creates a real headache for the Kremlin when you've got the Ukrainian army not only not surrendering and not being destroyed on their own territory, but actually attacking and pushing deep inside Russian territory, seizing towns and villages. When Ukraine launched this pretty surprise incursion

into the Kursk region in August last year. They made pretty good progress, seized quite a large chunk of territory. And it wasn't entirely clear at the time why Ukraine was doing this. There was some speculation it was trying to draw away Russian forces from the east of the country, from elsewhere on the front.

into the Kursk region in August last year. They made pretty good progress, seized quite a large chunk of territory. And it wasn't entirely clear at the time why Ukraine was doing this. There was some speculation it was trying to draw away Russian forces from the east of the country, from elsewhere on the front.

President Zelensky said later that the Kursk operation was designed to be used as a bargaining chip. in any future peace talks with Russia. But since August, Ukraine has been pushed back. Russian forces have been reinforced, of course, by several thousand troops from North Korea too. And although Russia has retaken large parts of that original area that Ukraine seized...

President Zelensky said later that the Kursk operation was designed to be used as a bargaining chip. in any future peace talks with Russia. But since August, Ukraine has been pushed back. Russian forces have been reinforced, of course, by several thousand troops from North Korea too. And although Russia has retaken large parts of that original area that Ukraine seized...

They haven't been able to push the Ukrainians out of the region altogether. So we'll have to see whether this operation is sustained, whether Ukraine manages to expand its presence. Ukrainian forces badly need a victory at the moment. Morale is pretty low here. Russia's been making significant advances on the battlefield in recent weeks.

They haven't been able to push the Ukrainians out of the region altogether. So we'll have to see whether this operation is sustained, whether Ukraine manages to expand its presence. Ukrainian forces badly need a victory at the moment. Morale is pretty low here. Russia's been making significant advances on the battlefield in recent weeks.

So Ukraine really needs to show its own people, show Western countries and the incoming Donald Trump administration that it can still mount offensive operations and it can still manage to have some victories, even if they're relatively small ones.

So Ukraine really needs to show its own people, show Western countries and the incoming Donald Trump administration that it can still mount offensive operations and it can still manage to have some victories, even if they're relatively small ones.

I think the capture of Masisi is significant. This is the capital of an administrative area and we understand that the Congolese army sent a lot of ammunition there to try and defend this town. It's somewhere that's been very well defended before and has been seen as a kind of prize. But the army and the militias couldn't defend it. It was taken over by the M23.

I think the capture of Masisi is significant. This is the capital of an administrative area and we understand that the Congolese army sent a lot of ammunition there to try and defend this town. It's somewhere that's been very well defended before and has been seen as a kind of prize. But the army and the militias couldn't defend it. It was taken over by the M23.

This is a group that's been imposing taxes on the mines that it captures in the areas it seizes. And people are looking at the map and kind of wondering where is next. But this is clearly part of a very rapid expansion by this M23 rebel group.

This is a group that's been imposing taxes on the mines that it captures in the areas it seizes. And people are looking at the map and kind of wondering where is next. But this is clearly part of a very rapid expansion by this M23 rebel group.

So Rwanda initially denied being involved but doesn't really counter the claims now and there has been a lot of evidence that they're supporting this M23 rebel group. and that there have been Rwandan troops in Congo. Rwanda has always said that this Tutsi population in eastern Congo is under threat.

So Rwanda initially denied being involved but doesn't really counter the claims now and there has been a lot of evidence that they're supporting this M23 rebel group. and that there have been Rwandan troops in Congo. Rwanda has always said that this Tutsi population in eastern Congo is under threat.