08/14/2024 – Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP
Ukrainian troops continue to advance in the Kursk region as Russia attempts to stabilize the front line in the area. The Defense Forces are currently operating in at least 41 towns in the region, and Kiev has outlined several clear objectives for the operation.
This is stated in the analysis of the American Institute for the Study of War ( ISW ). They noted that the Ukrainian authorities have already reported 74 settlements in the Kursk region that they currently control.
“It is unclear whether Zelenskyy meant that Ukrainian forces are operating in 74 settlements, or another type of geographic administrative unit. ISW has observed statements and geolocated video footage indicating that, as of August 13, Ukrainian forces are operating in or near approximately 41 settlements in the Kursk region, although there are many extremely small settlements and localities in the area that ISW did not include in this count,” the analysts noted.
Ukraine confirmed further advancement of Ukrainian Armed Forces
ISW noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the continuation of the Ukrainian offensive and the replenishment of the exchange fund in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian leader explained that Russian terrorists have carried out about 2,100 artillery strikes from the Kursk region to Sumy since June 1, 2024. Therefore, Ukraine’s operations are aimed at protecting Ukraine’s borders from Russian occupiers.
Analysts also recalled that on August 13, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhyi said that Ukraine was not interested in seizing the territory of Kursk Oblast . According to him, we only need to defend ourselves from Russian attacks and push Russian troops away from the border areas from where terrorists launch attacks.
Also, Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region do not allow the Russian military to transfer additional military units to the Donetsk region and complicate the logistical support of Russian troops.
Russian Milbloggers Confirm Ukrainian Promotion
Russian “military bloggers” have stated that Russian troops have failed to fully stabilize the situation in the Kursk region, despite efforts to stabilize the front line and repel Ukrainian attacks. Currently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced in the fields north of Snagost and northeast of Korenovy.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and other Russian sources claimed that the occupiers repelled Ukrainian attacks near Obshchy Kolodez, northeast of Korenevoye and 30 kilometers from the international border, and Alekseyevskoye. At the same time, geolocation footage shows that Ukrainian troops were advancing northeast of Alekseyevskoye and are continuing to attack Koronevo and Tolpino.
Milbloggers also complained that the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured Pogrebki north of Sudzha and 17 km from the international border, and also tried to gain a foothold at Velyky Soldatskoye.
Redeployment of Russian troops
To counter the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region, the Russian military command began redeploying troops from different directions of the front. In particular, elements of the Sarmat battalion of the Pyatnashka brigade and the Russian volunteer corps were redeployed from the Donetsk region.
However, the Russians regard this direction as a priority, so the Russian Federation fears that over time this could affect the pace of the occupiers’ offensive operations. Analysts believe that the Russian government will likely remain extremely unacceptable to the withdrawal of Russian military units participating in the fighting in the directions of Chasov Yar, Toretsk or Pokrovsk. Therefore, ISW believes that Russia will likely continue to deploy a limited number of irregular forces in the Kursk region due to concerns about a further slowdown in the pace of Russian operations in Ukraine.
In countering the offensive operation in the Kursk region, the Russian authorities will continue to rely on their conscripts, as well as on elements of some regular and irregular military units withdrawn from less critical parts of the front line.
“Anti-terrorist operation” led by Putin’s aide
On August 12, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin appointed his aide Alexei Dyumin to oversee the “anti-terrorist operation” in the Kursk region. This was confirmed by Nikolai Ivanov, a State Duma deputy from the Kursk region, citing his own sources, and by Russian mibloggers. However, the Kremlin has not published an official confirmation of this appointment.
It is noted that Dyumin is a trusted official from Putin’s inner circle. He is a former bodyguard of the dictator and ex-governor of the Tula region. According to Russian media, this official played a decisive role in the negotiations to end the armed uprising of the Wagner Group in June 2023.
“Dyumin’s appointment is not noteworthy in its essence . It is probably part of Putin’s efforts to ensure that his agencies work actively in a coordinated manner and under the direct control of the presidential administration to resolve the problem of the Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk region, and that he is informed about it,” ISW believes.
As reported by OBOZ.UA:
– Ukrainian defenders said they expected tougher resistance from the Russians during the invasion. They expressed hope that the offensive would hasten the end of the war .
– Bloomberg reported that Russia lacks recruits to recover from frontline losses that have reached their highest since the invasion began in February 2022. Ukraine’s stunning military offensive in the Kursk region has underscored Russia’s problems, which may now be forced to mobilize again.
God speed with the AFU! I hope they won’t overextend themselves.
Now would be high time for the allies to drop the charade of baseless fears and push troops into Ukraine if not for active combat duty, then to relief other Ukrainian troops along Belarus and Transnistria so they can reinforce their brothers in arms.
But, instead, we get a clutter of confusion and empty phrases from Washington, Berlin, and London and crickets from Paris. It’s the usual circus spectacle of baggy-pantsed, floppy-shoed clowns.