Ekaterina Girnyk10:30, 21.08.24
There are 5 kilometers left until the Seim River and the closure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces “cauldron”.
Ukraine is close to closing the “cauldron” on the Seim River in the Kursk region, where up to 3,000 Russian soldiers could be surrounded, writes Bild analyst Julian Röpke.
As Bild reminds, since August 16, Ukrainian troops have been blowing up bridges across the Seim River in the north of the Glushkovsky District of the Kursk Region. This could cut off the Russian Armed Forces group, since the area is surrounded by Ukrainian territory from the west and south. Russia is organizing pontoon crossings and an air bridge in response, and is also defending the remaining passage in the east.
“The day before, the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured the villages of Snagost and Apanasovka there, and they are 5 km away from the Seim River and the closure of the “cauldron”. At the same time, according to Ukrainian data, between 2,000 and 3,000 Russian soldiers remain inside the cauldron,” the publication writes.
As Röpke writes, the state border between Russia and Ukraine in the south and west of the cauldron is prepared for defense, but it will be difficult for the Russians to defend themselves if the Ukrainian Armed Forces attack from the east. In addition, in the west, the Ukrainians have already crossed the border and taken control of a small section of Russian territory of 15 square kilometers up to the Seim River, where the Otruba farmstead is located.
“The Russians now have a simple choice: either fight and defend this territory, or retreat. Apparently, both options are fatal for them,” Röpke said.
At the same time, he notes that this battle is not decisive, since it is unknown how many forces Ukraine has left.
Kursk region – news
As the NYT reported, Russian troops defending territory in the Kursk region, sandwiched between the Seim River and the border with Ukraine, risk being encircled after Ukraine destroyed bridges that are the only way to resupply or retreat.
The publication does not indicate how many Russian soldiers remain in the area between the Seim River and the border with Ukraine, but notes that the city of Glushkovo is located in this territory, which is considered a likely next target for the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the capture of Sudzha.
(C)UNIAN 2024