Kursk Region: Fierce Fighting In Various Directions

Click to see the full-size image

One hundred days have passed since the beginning of fierce fighting in Kursk Region. According to the Russian MoD, the Armed Forces of the Ukraine (AFU) have already lost more than 32,000 soldiers during the period of hostilities in this area. The bodies of more than 8 thousand of them were abandoned there. Now they are in morgues near the border. It will take several years to identify the corpses.

Over the past few days, Russian troops have eliminated 450 Ukrainian servicemen as well as a large number of Western armored vehicles in the Kursk Region. Among the destroyed vehicles are two American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two M113 armored personnel carriers, one Polish Krab self-propelled 155 mm howitzer and a French Crotale anti-aircraft missile system, as well as four mortars and 49 armored cars. Moreover, seven Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed above the territory of the Kursk Region over the past 24 hours.

Marines of the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet hit a Ukrainian Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicle from a Lancet UAV and continue to pursue the enemy by FPV drone controlled via a fiber optic cable

Kursk Region, Sudzha district. A Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle was hit while trying to take cover in a forest

Kursk Region, Kruglenkoe settlement. A squad of Russian forward air controllers highlighted a target for a FAB-1500 using a UMPK guidance kit

The main clashes are taking place in the Plekhovo area, where the hotspots of enemy presence remain on the eastern outskirts. To the northwest, fierce fighting continues within the borders of the village of Novaya Sorochina, where Russian troops are trying to consolidate their hold on key positions despite counterattacks by the AFU using drones and artillery. The Ukrainian side is trying to track down Russian repair and evacuation teams in order to destroy the enemy’s combat materiel with the help of FPV drones while it is being moved from its positions.

The advance of Russian troops in this direction began with a breakthrough of enemy’s defenses, but after initial success, the pace of the offensive slowed down. To the southwest, there are attempts to advance from the direction of Novoivanovka towards Leonidovo, but the Ukrainian army keeps resisting.

The situation is also heating up at the junction of Korenevsky and Sudzha Districts, where Russian Armed Forces conducted offensive operations to the east of the village of Kremianoye. The attack is directed towards Novaya Sorochina. The forest strips in this area are already partly under the control of Russian troops.

Along with the ground operations, the Russian side is using artillery and aviation to weaken the enemy’s resistance and inflict losses on its reserves. The use of missile strikes and the Geranium (Shahed) kamikaze drones on AFU positions in Sumy Region caused a series of explosions in several localities. The Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system strikes on Ukrainian troops assembly areas north of Ivolzhanskoye resulted in significant losses in the AFU ranks. After the strikes, local authorities appealed to the population to donate blood, which may indicate a shortage of medical resources and a large number of casualties.

The destruction by Russian marines (the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet) of a British Challenger 2 heavy tank, which was being used by the Ukrainians, is worth mentioning in particular. The exact location of the tank has not yet been disclosed, but information about the incident is being widely discussed on social media and military channels.

Kursk Region. British Challenger 2 tank destroyed by FPV drone (hit exactly in the driver’s hatch). The work of UAV operators of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces

The destruction of British equipment could affect the morale of both the Ukrainian military and its foreign partners. The Challenger 2 is considered one of the most protected models of Western armored vehicles, and its damage or destruction causes reputational damage to Western arms suppliers. The very fact that the AFU is moving such equipment to the Kursk Region speaks of the Ukrainian command’s intention to hold the occupied frontiers on Russian territory at all costs. The Ukrainian Army throws fresh reserves and NATO armored vehicles into the battle, and puts up fierce resistance. However, the Russian Army tactical missile systems and Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers continue to target the AFU reserve gathering points in Sumy Region. As a result of the shelling, large groups of AFU reserves in the areas of Yunakovka, Yablonevka and Sudzha were destroyed. The Russian side estimates the enemy’s losses from these strikes at more than 200 people, one Crotale missile launcher, 13 air defense systems and 28 automobiles.

Kursk border area. A Ukrainian armored vehicle M1151 HMMWV, made in the USA, torn to shreds

Kursk Region. Paratroopers of the Russian Sever (North) Group of Forces captured another American International Maxx Pro armored combat vehicle

Video footage of the destruction of Ukrainian military personnel, fighting vehicles and UAVs in the Kursk Region. Destroyed: 120 mm Kirpi mortar, T-82 tank, 5 platoon strongholds, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and Vampire hexacopter

A Russian FPV drone destroyed a Ukrainian armored vehicle in the Kursk border area. After a direct hit, the vehicle caught fire

A hulk of a Swedish BMP CV9040C of the Ukrainian army destroyed during an attempt to break through the border near the settlement of Veseloye in Glushkovsky District, Kursk Region

Advance of the Russian Armed Forces southwest of the settlement of Pogrebki in Sudzha District, Kursk Region

In general, the fighting in Kursk Region continues in the previous areas. The Russian military achieved a number of successes during the day. Control over the settlement of Daryino was confirmed, where the AFU garrison was finally dislodged.

Active offensive operations are under way in the Olgovsky forest. Russian units are simultaneously attacking from several directions, clearing the territory. According to local reports, some groups of the Ukrainian armed forces have been surrounded, which may change the situation in this area. Earlier, an attempt by units of the 17th separate brigade of the AFU to break the encirclement was thwarted there. In the Novoivanovka area, the troops of the Russian Sever (North) Group of Forces took control of the Novoivanovka settlement after heavy fighting. They had to repel numerous counterattacks by elite AFU units.

The advance of Russian troops continues towards Leonidove and Aleksandrovka, although the AFU, which has concentrated in the area, is preparing for counter-fighting.

Russian paratroopers encircled near the settlements of Starye and Novye Sorochyny were blocked in the vicinity of the village of Pogrebki. They continue to hold a circular defense.

Along with military developments, civilian problems are aggravating. Residents of Sudzha District, evacuated to Kursk, tried to appeal to the regional administration with requests for help. However, no concrete progress was made. As a result, the head of the district was dismissed for inaction. People complained about the lack of social support measures, ignoring appeals and lack of clear explanations from the authorities.

Similar problems affected residents of some other districts of the Kursk Region. They massively recorded video messages to the President, demanding the issuance of housing certificates, write-off of loans and improvement of conditions in temporary accommodation centers.

The authorities of Glushkovsky District of Kursk Region recognized the facts of looting in the territory where the Ukrainian military did not enter, after a wave of video clips from residents with looted apartments and houses. The head of the district said that several task forces have been set up to suppress the facts of looting and theft, which patrol the streets of settlements. Several people have already been detained and handed over to the police, weapons and other people’s property have been found in their hands.

Kursk Region, Sudzha District. The Ukrainian armed forces shelled Dmitrovskaya church

Meanwhile, the international community keeps criticizing the head of the Kiev regime Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “burning” billions of dollars in Kursk Region. Washington handed over to Kiev 83% of the total amount of promised ammunition, 60% of firearms and 67% of air defense systems. It’s about thousands of artillery shells, armored combat vehicles, rockets for HIMARS systems, hundreds of air-defense missiles, one Patriot battery and other weapons.

What could Kiev achieve in 2024 thanks to these supplies? The Ukrainian armed forces have thrown the lion’s share of the military aid they have received into the “Kursk adventure”, where Western armored vehicles have been destroyed for several months now. At the same time, heavy weapons, ammunition and armored vehicles are severely lacking in other fields. In particular, in the Donetsk front, where Ukraine is losing one town after another. Washington obviously did not count on such a modest “output” from the budget billions spent on Kiev. This has sharply reduced public support for Ukraine in American society.

Remarkably, the U.S. State Department officially states that the North Korean military is participating in hostilities together with Russian fighters in the Kursk Region. Washington expresses concern over such interaction between Moscow and Pyongyang. Earlier, it should be recalled, the United States neither confirmed nor denied this information.

Finally, according to an estimate by the Financial Times, Ukraine plans to mobilize another 160,000 people to the war between November and February.

“However, it is more realistic to expect a mobilization of up to 100,000 men. That would fill about half of the personnel shortfall. […] By December, the front line is likely to have shifted 30-35 kilometers west of its current position.” – Financial Times.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Kiev Forces Take Additional Losses In Kursk (Videos)
• Russian Army Repels Six Ukrainian Counter-Attacks In Kursk (Videos)
• Kursk Battles At All Cost