Monday, January 6

Ukraine has launched another offensive into the Kursk, further growing their territory in a Russian region that suffered from another Ukrainian incursion last year.

Back in August, Ukraine launched a surprise attack on Kursk, stunning an unprepared Russia. Russia had been focusing their resources in eastern Ukraine, working to maintain their control of the oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, leading Ukraine to try a different approach. Ukrainian forces quickly gained over 500 square miles of territory and over 90 settlements in just a matter of days, forcing Russia to redirect their forces away from other areas.

Since then, Russia has regained around half of the territory gained by Ukraine, but Ukraine has managed to prevent Russia's much larger army from taking back the entire Kursk region. Using their soldiers along with additional soldiers from North Korea, Russia has been slowly taking back their territory, mile by mile. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Ukraine would be kicked out of Kursk soon, but he did not give an exact date as to when this would happen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that it is crucial for Ukraine to keep their control over the area in Kursk, as it could be a vital piece of leverage to use in peace talks.

However, according to Ukraine, Russia has been struggling in Kursk. Zelenskyy stated that Russia had lost an entire battalion in Kursk over the past few days-- his claim could not be confirmed, though. The Pentagon also said that North Korean soldiers have suffered over 1,000 casualties in the region over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, Russia has stated that they have killed hundreds of additional Ukrainian soldiers, but this claim could also not be confirmed.

Ukraine has now launched their second offensive in Kursk, consisting of multiple tanks and dozens of armored vehicles. Russia seemed to be unsure as to where to place their troops, as the incursion was spread out and traveled in multiple different directions. The fighting includes both heavy-duty artillery weapons and smaller infantry battles, which are resulting in losses for both sides. They are also equipped with a mine-clearing vehicle, helping to clear the way for Ukrainian soldiers to enter Russian territory on foot.

Now, the world is watching to see if Ukraine will be able to maintain their territory in Kursk or if Russia will take it back-- there is sure to be some intense fighting in the area over the next few weeks.

Upcoming Events:

• Australian Open Begins (Monday, January 6)

• Three Kings Day (Monday, January 6)

• Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (Monday, January 6)

• Bodhi Day (Tuesday, January 7)

Fact of the Day: Penguins weren't always this small. Scientists have found that giant penguins lived around 60 million years ago, averaging around 5 and a half feet tall and weighing around 250 pounds. The tallest specimen ever found was 6 and a half feet tall, while the heaviest specimen was over 350 pounds.

Quote of the Day: It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. (Theodore Roosevelt)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cerulean (adj, suh-ROO-lee-un) - Cerulean describes things whose blue color resembles the blue of a clear sky.

In a Sentence: The painting depicts leafless trees bordering a cerulean lake.