Russia Launches Fast-Paced Counter-Offensive into Ukraine

Russia has reportedly launched a "fast paced" counteroffensive operation in the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, amid the ongoing war between the two.

Ukrainian military authorities shared a post on Telegram on Friday saying that Russian troops were "advancing at a fast pace" in Pokrovsk, as Ukraine launched its own offensive operation in the Russian region of Kursk.

"With every passing day there is less and less time to collect personal belongings and leave for safer regions," the Ukrainian military authorities said according to The Associated Press, urging civilians in the town to evacuation as quickly as possible.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, which said, "today at the Staff meeting, I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. Our key defense directions at the front line: Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and others. These areas are currently facing the most intense Russian assaults and are receiving our utmost defensive attention. Priority supplies—everything that is needed—are being sent there."

"Separately, the Commander-in-Chief reported on the operation in Kursk Oblast. There has been new progress. Our "exchange fund" has been further replenished. Additionally, General Syrskyi reported the successful liberation of the city of Sudzha from Russian forces. A Ukrainian military commandant's office is being established there. Several other settlements have also been liberated. In total, more than eighty," Zelensky said in his post.

Earlier this month, Ukraine launched its own offensive operation in the Russian region of Kursk, as war has continued to rage between the two nations. Thousands of Russians have been evacuated from both Kursk and the surrounding regions, as armed clashes intensify across southwestern Russia following Ukraine's unexpected cross-border raid.

On Tuesday, Zelensky said that Kyiv's forces were now in control of over 70 settlements in Russian territory, and that "hundreds of Russian servicemen" had been captured, adding to the country's prisoner-of-war "exchange fund."

However, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its forces "continue to repel" the Ukrainian advance, and that Kyiv had lost some 2,600 troops since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk.

General Christopher Cavoli, who serves as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe recently spoke about Ukraine's offensive in Kursk and criticized Russia's response.

"Russia is still piecing together its response to Ukraine's invasion. So far, it has only been a rather slow and scattered reaction," he said during an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.

"Russia does not establish who has authority … The Ministry of Defense is responsible for military operations inside Ukraine, but not inside Russia, right?," Cavoli added.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry via email for comment.

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