Russia Digs Trenches, Fearing Rapid Ukrainian Advance in Kursk Region, ISW Reports

Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assert that Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region are significantly affecting Russia’s defense, logistics, and security.

Russian military bloggers have noted minor territorial gains by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, although overall, the pace of Ukrainian operations in the area has slowed down. Russian forces are working to stabilize the front line.

Satellite images from Maxar, captured on August 12, show newly constructed defensive positions, including trenches and anti-vehicle ditches, located southwest of Lgov along the E38 Lgov-Rylsk-Hlukhiv road, Northwest of the Russian city of Sudzha.

Additional images released on August 13 and taken between August 6 and 11, show new fortifications near the 38K-024 road, just south of Lgov.

CNN reported on August 14 that Russian job portals are now advertising positions for trench-digging in the Kursk region, as Ukrainian forces continue to make gains in the Russian border region. The job listings are seeking “general workers” to dig fortifications, offering wages between 150,000-371,000 rubles (approximately $1,600-4,000).

Following Ukraine’s surprise incursion across the border into Russia, reports have emerged of Russian personnel digging trenches near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in anticipation of further Ukrainian advances.

ISW analysts also reported on August 11 that Russia is working to bolster its border fortifications, but has not allocated sufficient personnel to the task.

“Sparsely manned and equipped border fortifications proved insufficient at preventing Ukrainian gains at the outset of the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region, and the Russian military command will likely conclude that further manpower and equipment commitments to the international border will be required,” the ISW noted.

Advances in the North of the Kursk region raise Russian concern over the situation on the ground. ISW analysts stated that Russian forces appear particularly focused on safeguarding key highways and are likely trying to proactively protect crucial landlines of communication, especially along the E38 and 38K routes, to impede Ukrainian maneuvers.

Additionally, Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region are also reportedly impacting Russian railway logistics. On August 13, the Belarusian Railway Workers Community reported that Russian Railways had instructed Belarusian Railways to cease sending trains from Belarusian stations to the Oryol-Kursk branch of the Moscow Railway starting on August 12. This was due to a “large-scale operational transfer of troops in the direction of Kursk Region” and the movement of freight trains for military purposes.

On August 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially stated that Ukraine is conducting an operation in the Kursk region of Russia. According to the latest data, Ukraine was controlling 74 settlements, about 1,000 km² of the territory of the Russian Federation. Zelenskyy has also stated that hundreds of Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian forces.