The Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade has successfully repelled a Russian assault in the Kursk Oblast, with the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade suffering significant losses after parading into a minefield. The Ukrainian forces have been holding the line against Russian counteroffensives, with the salient in Kursk serving as a bargaining chip for potential negotiations.
The situation is further complicated by the involvement of US President Donald Trump, who has demanded that Ukraine give the US half of its $500-billion reserves of rare earth minerals as payment for past US aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has so far avoided signing the deal, but is walking a fine line between Russian invaders and American extortionists. The 47th Mechanized Brigade’s continued success on the battlefield is buying Zelensky more time for diplomacy, with the Ukrainian salient in Kursk remaining a crucial negotiating tool.