Ukraine launches fresh offensive in Russia's Kursk region, deploying advanced electronic warfare systems that effectively ground Russian drone operations.
On Sunday, Ukraine initiated a fresh offensive push into Russia's Kursk region, where Russian military observers report that Kyiv's drone jamming capabilities have proven remarkably effective.
According to posts from "Operation Z," a channel aggregating Russian war correspondent reports, Ukrainian forces concentrated their attack on the Bolshesoldatsky district, positioned northeast of Ukraine's existing foothold in Kursk.
"The Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed powerful electronic warfare systems across the area to facilitate their breakthrough, significantly hampering our UAV operations," reported the Telegram channel, which maintains a following of over 1.6 million.
These observations were reinforced by Razvedos Advanced Gear & Equipment, a Russian military news Telegram channel boasting more than 152,000 followers, in their Sunday update.
"While this direction wasn't unexpected, their electronic warfare implementation proved EXTREMELY effective," the channel stated regarding the combat in Bolshesoldatsky.
Military blogger Roman Alekhine, whose channel has approximately 218,000 subscribers, noted: "Electronic warfare systems have blanketed the attack zone, rendering numerous drones ineffective."
In a subsequent update, Alekhine mentioned that some Russian drone operators managed to adapt by switching to unaffected frequencies.
Another military blogger, Sergei Kolyasnikov, with roughly 498,000 followers, indicated that approximately 10 Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles had moved into the Bolshesoldatsky area.
"The region is completely saturated with powerful electronic warfare systems, grounding all aerial operations," he reported.
The complete details of Ukraine's latest territorial incursion remain uncertain. The initial surprise counteroffensive launched by Kyiv into Kursk in August secured roughly 480 square miles of Russian territory, though they've gradually lost ground since then.
Ukraine has maintained limited official communication about the operation. However, Andriy Kovalenko, who heads Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation under the national security and defense council, referenced an attack Sunday, noting that Russian forces in Kursk "faced attacks from multiple directions, catching them off guard."
Ukraine's presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, also alluded to military action, stating on his Telegram channel that Russia was "receiving its due" in Kursk.
Russia, conversely, has explicitly acknowledged Ukraine's renewed offensive.
"On January 5, around 09:00 Moscow time, the enemy launched a counterattack near the Berdin farm, employing an assault group comprising two tanks, one barrier vehicle, and 12 armored combat vehicles carrying troops, attempting to halt Russian forces' advancement in the Kursk direction," their defense ministry informed state media.
As reports circulated about Ukraine's jamming success, Russia's defense ministry released footage showing a Russian drone operator directing tank fire at an unspecified target in a wooded area, claiming the operation occurred in Kursk.
Business Insider's requests for comment from both Ukrainian and Russian Defense Ministries, sent outside standard office hours, went unanswered.
Electronic warfare has become increasingly crucial as both sides extensively utilize low-cost drones for reconnaissance, loitering munitions, and short-range bombing missions.
A notable innovation has been the emergence of tethered drones. These systems deploy extended fiber optic cables from spools during flight, enabling them to overcome jamming interference.
Their potential widespread adoption could present additional challenges for military forces already making substantial investments in drone countermeasures. For instance, the US has committed approximately $250 million to Anduril, Palmer Luckey's defense company, for 500 drones and their Pulsar electronic warfare system.