What We Know About What’s Happening in Kursk Region, Analyzing Russian Reports

The Russian Ministry reported that 300 soldiers from the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored combat vehicles, attacked the settlements of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya in the Kursk region, directly adjacent to the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Russian war correspondents claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked from two directions: from the checkpoint at Sudzha (on the border to the northeast of Sumy along the N-07/R-200 highway) towards Sudzha and Oleshnya; and from the village of Noven'ke in Sumy region (northeast of the Sudzha checkpoint and the city of Sumy) towards Nikolayevo-Daryino in the Kursk region of Russia.

As Russian media reports, some of the Ukrainian forces were "detected in time" and were hit before crossing the border, but a significant portion managed to penetrate the Russian border area, according to telegram channel "Operation Z." The channel reports that one of the "armored groups" advanced to a depth of 5-7 km, where it was "engaged by fire and destroyed" near a fortification zone at the settlement of Tolstyy Lug.

Following this, Ukrainian forces reportedly began bringing additional units to the border to establish a foothold on Russian territory, says "Operation Z."

On August 7, Russian media reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces allegedly managed to breach Russian second defensive line and advance more than 10 km from the border to the settlements of Leonidovo and Alexandria.

Russian military correspondent Alexey Zhivov writes that the attempt to break through the border is "definitely not a PR stunt," but rather "part of a planned offensive that the Ukrainian forces have been preparing all summer."

Some Russian media has reported on August 7 that “the enemy forces control the gas measuring station at Sudzha,” which transports Russian gas to Europe.

Videos and photos have appeared on social media showing large numbers of what is reported to be Russian soldiers surrounding en masse in Kursk region of Russia.

Ukraine’s response

Ukrainian General Staff have not yet commented on the situation. Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR) has stated that the fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps are "definitely not involved" in the "breakthrough" in Kursk region. This information was reported by NV, citing a source in the intelligence.

While no offical confirmation from Armed Forces of Ukraine, head of the anti-disinformation department at the National Security and Defense Council commented on the claims, saying that Russia does not control its border in Kursk region.

"Russian military commanders are lying about the situation being under control in Kursk region. Russia does not control the border," Kovalenko stated.

Russia’s response

The Russian Defense Ministry commented on the border breach by Ukraine in the Kursk region, saying military reserves will be used to repel the attack.

“The troops covering the state border together with the units of the border troops of the FSB [Federal Security Service] of Russia are repelling attacks and inflicting fire damage on the enemy in the area of ​​the state border and reserves in the territory of the Sumy region,” the Ministry said on their official Telegram channel. “Reserves of the Russian group of troops in the Kursk direction are on their way to the combat area.”

On August 7, Russian leader Vladimir Putin convened a government meeting where he stated that situation in Kursk region is a 'massive provocation' and 'indiscriminate shooting.' Kremlin propagandists are starting to spread the message that after the Security Council meeting, Putin will issue an ultimatum to the West — either it stops supplying weapons to Ukraine, or Russia will carry out a massive missile strike.

It was also reported that Vladimir Putin convened a meeting 'on the situation in the Kursk region' with the participation of Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, and Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu. According to Gerasimov, the advance of enemy forces deeper into Russia in the Kursk direction has been halted.

Russian media are also reporting that their officials are being dishonest and that the combat zone is expanding.

Editors note: This is a developing story, and further details are awaited as the situation unfolds.