Since last August, when, with complete surprise to both Russia and the West, the forces of Ukraine invaded the Russian province of Kursk, the question was more about how long they would be able to maintain the roughly 1,000 square kilometers they occupied in just a few days and less about why Kyiv made the move.

Today, four months later, despite the massive mobilization of Russian forces, the military of Ukraine still controls most of the territory in question and, more importantly, is inflicting significant losses on the Kremlin which has deployed a significant number of forces in the region – with the Ukrainians also talking about several thousand North Koreans who have yet to make their appearance on the front lines, but still present and exercising in the province.

What becomes clear with a quick survey of the area is that the Russians have a significant number of drones and a reinforced artillery force. The area several kilometers into the Ukrainian eastern province is taking significant hits and few residents in the suburbs of the city of Sumy have remained in their homes today. The damage to homes and infrastructure is extensive but especially in this particular area the Ukrainian authorities are talking about energy sufficiency and the truth is that this area is also one of the few where there have been no widespread power cuts. Only hospitals and critical infrastructure are exempt from these outages – and even the country’s metropolis, Kyiv, spends several hours of the day and night in darkness.

From a morphological point of view, the province north of Harkiv has altitude, and this gives a significant advantage to the defending Ukrainians who with great speed managed to set up trenches and “sow” the teeth of their dragons on Russian lands as well, turning winter into a torment and a weapon against the Russians…

The Operations Coordination Centre

But also interesting is how the Ukrainian army manages to still retain part of Kursk and strike with ferocity but also with a wide “variety” of means against the Russian forces. protothema.gr was in the heart of one of the most important operational coordination centers and saw up close how the commander of the 47th Division directs drones, ground units, artillery, and tanks into Russia.

Olexander, who has no problem talking to us and showing his face, stands in front of two large screens and talks sometimes by radio, sometimes by cell phone software to his team leaders. Ukrainian drones scan the snowy field and the commander of the 47th Division coordinates the more than 700 people fighting with him. The information gathered from the field is critical and the smallest detail can make a difference. Together with the commander, drone operators, and officers of various units, they analyze the situation and jointly decide the movements of Ukrainian forces on the ground. Oleksander stresses that for him there is no other way than victory and that is why he rarely leaves the side of his teams.

You would expect a facility like this to be tense, or at least have nervousness in the atmosphere. But everything is done with calmness and movements that show certainty and knowledge. It’s a bit of a paradox and perhaps it sounds cynical, but for the Ukrainians – as probably the Russians – every day of war after three years of fighting seems like “normality”. Surveillance monitors, which have both physical and thermal imaging, are filled with sounds from units in the field. The Ukrainians have located yet another small but deadly group of Russians in a place where only a few minutes ago there were only burnt trees, smashed houses, and damaged vehicles. Orders are being transmitted rapidly and we are witnessing the elimination of Russian soldiers in live broadcasts. At the end of the operation, Oleksander, looking to our side, remarks “Thank goodness you came today because it’s a relatively quiet day.”

“The battles are tough”

At the coordination point, Olexander is not just drawing up a strategy and not just giving orders as one might imagine. Along with his military duties he learns at regular intervals by asking his units himself whether all and sundry remain well and whether they need anything. “Conditions in the fields are tough but we’ve been here for the last three years for the tough stuff,” he says. Asked how the war might end, the 47th commander is under no illusions: ‘The fighting is tough, maybe tougher than ever at this stage. But there is no choice. We are here and we will do everything to win. There is no other way than to dismantle those who have invaded our country. There is no talk of a smaller or less Ukraine even if it requires our sacrifice. What we want is for you to give us the weapons we ask for and we will take care of the rest ourselves.”