Just a week ago, units of the Ukrainian army's 47th mechanized brigade were engaged in unusual and seemingly pointless fighting around the border town of Novi Put in western Russia, 40 kilometers west of the roughly 650 square kilometers of territory that Ukrainian forces have seized in the Russian region. Kursk. in August this year.

Today, units of the 47th Brigade, equipped with American M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M-1 Abrams tanks, are no longer fighting over Novi Put. Now they are fighting to get out on the left flank of Kursk, trying to hold their positions before a strong Russian counteroffensive, which began on November 7, Forbes writes.

Taking advantage of the post-election period in the US, perhaps anticipating changes in US-Ukrainian relations, Russia launched an all-out Kursk offensive. The Kremlin sent reinforcements from the 51st Airborne Regiment and the 810th Marine Brigade, which now includes thousands of North Korean troops, to Ukrainian positions.

In one attack on Tuesday, 30 Russian armored vehicles moved toward the 47th Mechanized Brigade in five waves. The Ukrainians responded with mines, drones and Stugna-P anti-tank missiles, destroying ten Russian vehicles. The survivors retreated to sectors controlled by other Ukrainian units, including the 17th Heavy Mechanized Brigade, which also continued to inflict losses on the remaining vehicles.

Despite heavy losses – including nearly 2.000 dead and wounded soldiers in one day – the Russians continue to attack. Putin initially set an October 1 deadline to recapture Kursk, but the new deadline is now believed to be January 20, when US President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated.

Once again, Kursk—another repelled "meat assault" using heavy equipment. For over three months, 'Putin's elite' have been smashing against the defenses of the true Cossack elite. Out of 30 vehicles, 10 were destroyed.

Footage by the 47th Mechanized Brigade.… pic.twitter.com/KG3kKe2GOJ

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) November 12, 2024

Trump has vowed to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, though it is unclear how he plans to do so once he officially takes control of US foreign policy. Allegedly, in a post-election conversation with President Zelenski, he proposed a truce that would freeze the current front line.

Under the proposal, Russia would retain about 65.000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine would control 650 square kilometers around Kursk – provided it could hold that part until the ceasefire came into effect. Putin, however, is ready to make great sacrifices to force the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from that territory.

The commanders of the 47th Mechanized Brigade are aware that now is not the time for cross-border attacks, as the Russians focus their efforts entirely on Kursk, while the Ukrainians do their best to hold positions.