- In response to Kiev's aggressive actions, Moscow deploys its military forces.
Due to the progress of Ukrainian forces in the western Russian region of Kursk, intelligence experts believe Moscow has pulled back troops from the neighboring country they invaded for the first time. The Russian military high command is said to have moved some units from the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia to bolster defenses in Kursk, as reported by the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW), using information from reassigned soldiers on social media. However, Russia seems determined not to weaken its main offensive in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
Ukraine's capital has yet to issue any fresh statements regarding the Russian advance. According to Meduza, an exile Russian media portal, the fiercest fighting is happening between the captured Ukrainian towns of Sushcha and Kursk's regional capital, as well as around the strategically significant town of Korenevo. Here, Ukrainian forces have made headway in their attempt to bypass and surround the settlement from both the north and south. However, the current territorial gains are much smaller compared to the initial week of Ukraine's counteroffensive.
Pressure on Donetsk from Russian Army
Meanwhile, Russia has persisted in its advance in the Donetsk region. Russian soldiers are dominant in and around the cities of Pokrovsk and Torez. However, the military's primary point of attack near Pokrovsk has shifted. Instead of heading straight for the city, part of the forces have shifted southward. The objective appears to be to dismantle the entire Ukrainian defensive line in Donbass's southern region.
The movement of troops from Zaporizhzhia to Kursk implies a strategic shift within the Russian military. Despite this, Russia continues to exert pressure on the Donetsk region, with Russian soldiers maintaining control in Pokrovsk and Torez.
