Russian Counter-Offensive in Kursk
Russian forces have launched a significant counter-offensive against Ukrainian troops who advanced into western Russia last month. This move marks a major shift in the conflict, with Russian troops managing to regain some territory.
Ukraine’s Initial Assault
On August 6, Ukraine executed its largest foreign attack on Russia since World War II. Ukrainian forces breached the Kursk region with thousands of troops, supported by a swarm of drones and heavy weaponry, including Western-made arms.
Russian Retaliation
Major General Apti Alaudinov, commanding Chechnya’s Akhmat special forces in Kursk, reported that Russian forces have successfully pushed back and reclaimed approximately 10 settlements. Alaudinov, who is also deputy head of the Russian defense ministry’s military-political department, commented, “The situation is favorable for us. About 10 settlements in the Kursk region have been liberated.”
Russian Defense Ministry’s Statement
The Russian defense ministry confirmed that Ukrainian units had been repelled from several villages in Kursk. The exact details of the battlefield situation remain challenging to verify due to reporting restrictions.
Ukrainian Claims and Disputes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy previously asserted that Ukrainian forces controlled 100 settlements in the Kursk region, covering over 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles). This claim is disputed by Russian sources.
Pro-Russian Blog Reports
Pro-Russian military bloggers, including Yuri Podolyaka, Rybar, and the Two Majors, have reported a significant counter-offensive by Russian forces in Kursk. The Two Majors blog stated that the Russian Army has launched counter-offensive actions on the western flank of the Ukrainian advance, reducing Ukrainian control near the border.
Advances in Eastern Ukraine
Podolyaka reported that Russian forces have recaptured several villages west of the area occupied by Ukraine, pushing Ukrainian troops east of the Malaya Loknya River south of Snagost. Additionally, Russian forces have made advances in eastern Ukraine and are engaged in combat in the center of Ukrainsk in the Donetsk region, according to Russian war bloggers and open-source maps of the conflict.