Russians want to have stopped Ukrainian Kursk offensive
Repeatedly, the Russian military claims to have halted the advance of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region - this time with the help of the air force. However, the air force is hardly used in the region. Other indications also cast doubt on Moscow's successes.
Russian forces claim to have stopped the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region with air strikes. Russian war bloggers reported intense fighting along the front in the region. According to Ukrainian reports, Russia deployed soldiers and heavy weapons and managed to repel attacks. The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of Su-34 bombers allegedly attacking Ukrainian troops in the Russian border area and infantry storming Ukrainian positions.
"Enemy's uncontrolled advance has been stopped," said Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Chechen special forces unit Achmat. "The enemy already knows that his planned blitzkrieg has failed." However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Caution is also advised with the video material used by Russian authorities. Recently, the investigative team of "The Insider" successfully debunked claims of successful Russian strikes against Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk. It turned out that the footage was old and not taken in the region.
Furthermore, doubts are raised about a large-scale use of the Russian air force. Fighter jets and helicopters in the Kursk region are exposed to significant risks. Ukraine is said to have stationed large numbers of anti-aircraft guns in the Sumy region before the start of its offensive. In the initial phase of the Kursk offensive, it shot down two Russian fighter jets and two helicopters. Drones were also used. In the following days, the Russian air force was noticeably less active.
Russians evacuate another district
Statements by the Russian Ministry of Defense also do not suggest that the Ukrainian advance has been seriously stopped or even repulsed. Currently, there are intense fights in Obshchii Kolodez, Kauchuk, and Alekseevskii. The three villages are between 27 and 30 kilometers inland and are only a few kilometers east of the heavily contested town of Korenewo. The three villages are well outside the area under Ukrainian control, indicating that Ukrainian troops can continue to advance.
Moreover, Russian authorities are preparing the evacuation of another district. "Up to today, there has been no evacuation in our district. Everyone has left on their own, no one has prevented them. Today, we are collecting data on who still needs to be evacuated," wrote the head of the Bolshesoldatsky district, Vladimir Sayzew, on Telegram. Since the region is not close to the Ukrainian-Russian border but further inland, it is likely that Russian authorities do not expect a quick end to the Ukrainian advance. According to official figures, there were around 11,000 people living in the district before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have made a push into Russia, with the Governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, stating on Monday that Ukraine controls 28 settlements in the region. The incursion is approximately 12 kilometers deep and 40 kilometers wide. According to Ukrainian reports, around 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory have been captured, more than double the figures provided by Smirnov. According to calculations by news agency AFP, Ukrainian soldiers control at least 800 square kilometers in the Russian region of Kursk. These figures are based on information from the "Institute for the Study of War," which analyzes Russian and Ukrainian data, as well as satellite imagery. Additionally, Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have captured many Russian soldiers, as evidenced by numerous videos. The exact number is uncertain, with Ukrainian reports suggesting around 2,000 men.
The European Union has expressed concerns over Russia's actions in Ukraine, calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops from the Kursk region. Despite Russian claims of halting the Ukrainian advance with the help of the air force, evidence suggests otherwise, with Ukrainian forces reportedly capturing significant territory.
