Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that the intensification of the Ukrainian defence forces' offensive in Kursk Oblast may indicate a new stage in the Ukrainian defence operation in Kursk,

Ukrainian forces on Sunday launched a new offensive inside Russia's western Kursk border region, going on the attack with substantial forces.

Russia sent one of its top generals, General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, to organize Russia’s defense in Kursk Oblast against a renewed Ukrainian attack, The Telegraph reported on Jan. 5.

Russian military commentators say they are ‘worried’ about the multipronged Ukrainian attack in the border region of Kursk

Russian troops launch their own attack at the same time, perhaps as a spoiler.

Analyst refrained from making any concrete predictions. "Ukrainian troops recently achieved tactical successes while continuing intense offensive operations in the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on Jan.