Why in the News?

Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 35 kilometers into Russian territory in the Kursk region.

What is the Kursk Operation?

The Kursk operation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The operation has been characterized by intense fighting, with reports of casualties.

It is located in the western part of Russia, bordering Ukraine to the southwest.
The region holds historical significance Battle of Kursk as the site of the, which took place from July to August 1943 and is recognized as the largest tank battle in history during World War II.
The Kursk region is rich in iron ore, which has led to substantial mining operations in the area.
The region experiences a continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers.

Strategic Leverage: Strengthens Ukraine’s position in future negotiations by capturing Russian territory for potential land exchanges.
Buffer Zone Creation: Enhances security for contested Ukrainian areas by establishing a protective buffer on Russian soil.
Military Diversion: Forces Russia to redeploy troops, weakening their main front lines and easing pressure on Ukrainian forces.

[2023] Consider the following pairs:

Regions often mentioned in news	Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri	War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh	Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia	Dispute between Israel and Lebanon

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None