Ukraine Expands Area Of Fighting But Finding Advances Increasingly Blocked
Howard Altman
15 min read
Ukraine said it captured 1.000 kilometers of Russian territory.
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Ukraine for the first time provided details of its invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast, with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiy telling President Volodymyr Zelensky that his troops have captured about 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory so far in the seven-day-old operation.
“We are grateful to all soldiers and commanders for their steadfastness and decisive actions,” Zelensky said.
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Zelensky for the first time officially confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducting an operation in the Kursk region.
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Rate. The most important thing is the report of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Sirsky regarding our defensive actions at… pic.twitter.com/PSQo9TZY0V
Though Ukrainian forces are continuing to expand the territory they are fighting over, the toll on troops and equipment is increasing as Russia continues to pour reinforcements into the region and block several Ukrainian attempts to advance deeper. Ukraine has also launched an incursion into Belgorod Oblast, immediately abutting Kursk, however, it appears to be far less expansive or intense.
Meanwhile, as Ukraine creeps toward the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
Zelensky said Russian forces had started a fire at the plant, which has been occupied by Moscow’s forces for more than two years. Zaporizhzhia’s Kremlin-installed governor said Ukrainian shelling caused the blaze, BBC reported.
Russian Telegram channels showed new footage of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
What is known so far about the incident at the nuclear power plant:
In the wake of Kyiv’s invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there would be no peace negotiations and that Ukraine “will receive a worthy response, all the goals facing Russia will be achieved.” He did not elaborate. He also vowed to push Ukrainian forces out of Russia.
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JUST IN:
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Russian President Putin says there will be no more peace talks with Ukraine.
"What is there to even talk about with those who attack civilians and nuclear facilities?" pic.twitter.com/uugF3zQO9b
The initial attacks were swift, catching Russians by surprise.
"We entered Russian territory for the first time at 1pm on Tuesday," Volodymyr said. "We were among the first to enter." They encountered a Russian unit "sitting in the forest, drinking coffee at a table." "Then our Stryker drives right into their table."https://t.co/h9xObOxPXs
By contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) stated that the Akhmat forces belonging to Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov managed a strategic withdrawal, avoiding deaths, injuries, or capture.
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Konashenkov about Kadyrovites in Kursk region: "Over the last three days, the Kyiv regime's terrorist group has broken through into the territory of Kursk region despite the fact that the border was under reliable protection of the Akhmat special forces. Nevertheless, during… pic.twitter.com/tDdten7bAR
Despite Syrskiy’s comments, the Russian MoD has repeatedly claimed they’ve thwarted Ukraine’s invasion every day since it began. However, the area being contested has actually expanded, according to an analysis of Russian MoD statements by the independent Russian Agentsvo news outlet.
Ukraine is fighting with troops backed by armor as well as in much smaller sabotage and reconnaissance units.
Agentsvo offered a smaller Ukrainian footprint in Kurs than Syrskiy, saying Kyiv’s forces are fighting in about 720 square kilometers there.
The furthest point of the Ukrainian advance reached the town of Obshchy Kolodez about 18 miles north of the border, Agentsvo stated. The westernmost area of fighting has taken place in Tolpino, 10 miles southwest, and the easternmost point in the village of Martynovka, about 20 miles southwest.
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Минобороны подтвердило расширение зоны боевых действий в районе Суджи
В новом пресс-релизе Минобороны перечислило населенные пункты, в которых ведутся бои или наносятся воздушные удары в Курской области. Пресс-релиз свидетельствует о расширении зоны и интенсификации боев в… pic.twitter.com/9LoplRsxZu
Aside from ground attacks, Ukrainian Defense Forces “launched a combined missile and air strike on the Kursk-Vostochny airbase, where the 14th Fighter Aviation Regiment and the 332nd Helicopter Regiment are based,” according to the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies. “Another missile strike targeted a forward concentration area of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet.”
Drones, as they have throughout this war, are playing a big role in Ukraine’s advances.
Russian truck carrying troops in Kursk gets attacked by a Ukrainian drone, to The amusement of a local…
Russia has blunted several Ukrainian attempts to advance, but Ukraine is pushing around obstacles, the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source investigation organization told The War Zone on Monday.
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“In Kursk, Russia has been able to reinforce the most crucial points and halt Ukrainian operations,” Black Bird Group analyst Emil Kastehelmi told us.
However, despite Russian reinforcements, “they haven’t been able to block all areas of advance yet,” Kastehelmi added. “For example, we’ve seen a Ukrainian APC detachment fighting near Belitsa, inside the village of Giri. The Russians are still in a situation where they have to prioritize some of the most central areas, and there isn’t a clear frontline yet, at least in all directions.”
In example of how difficult it is to assess what’s going on, Russian sources claimed that a BTR-4 seen in GIri was actually Akhmat forces joy riding in the vehicle they captured. The armored vehicle is one of many Ukraine used to invade Kursk.
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Wooaah, so you're telling me that one lone BTR-4 spotted in Giri that's causing the entire pro-UA blogosphere to claim AFU controls the whole region was actually Akhmat joy-riding on their captured BTR-4? That makes a lot more sense (video with all clips combined for proof). https://t.co/DPEg1CbONkpic.twitter.com/fwePFr0OAD
At the moment Ukrainian units “are operating east of Korenevo, with the possible goal of creating a flank threat,” Kastehelmi explained. ”There is a lot of so-called gray area – Ukraine likely doesn’t have a solid control of the Olgovka-Gavrilovka-area, but neither does Russia. There are a lot of uncertainties, as Ukraine tries to keep up the momentum and element of surprise before more Russian reserves arrive.”
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Ukraine also claimed to have entered the town of Sverdilkovo and took down a Russian flag there.
Ukraine “still has some momentum, even though some operationally important towns, mainly Korenevo and Sudzha (and Mirnyi) weren’t taken as quickly as would have been desirable for a swift continuation of the offensive,” Kastehelmi expounded. “A lot depends on how many units Ukraine is ready to commit to the operation and if they want to try, for example, to open up other directions to support the current effort. One such direction could be an attack towards Rylsk from Hlukhiv.”
“His unit, which the FT is not identifying at the request of Denys and his senior officers, had been rotated to the area from the eastern Donetsk region more than a week ago to take part in the offensive.” https://t.co/gqqv8heRIepic.twitter.com/WORKDURRDz
Visual evidence emerged of damage to Gazprom’s transfer station in Sudzha. The station is “the last operational trans-shipping point for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine, according to Reuters. About half of Russia’s natural gas exports to Europe go through Ukraine, the outlet reported.
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“In December 2019, Moscow and Kyiv signed a long-term five-year agreement for the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine: 45 bcm in 2020 and 40 bcm per year in 2021-2024,” according to Reuters. “The agreement on Russian gas transit to Europe through Ukraine expires in 2024, and Kyiv has said it has no intention of extending it or concluding a new deal.”
1/3 Satellite images by @planet, taken on Aug. 11th, show damage to the 'Sudzha' gas metering station in Kursk oblast. The damage to the admin. building was inflicted on the night of August 11th, while the damage to the metering unit occurred earlier, between Aug. 9th and 10th. pic.twitter.com/bhzPLJbtFH
Despite the damage though, gas is still flowing. Still, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov said that the fighting that broke out has already drastically affected the prices of natural and liquefied gas, which have risen sharply, according to the official Russian TASS news agency.
Ukraine reportedly turned the tables on a Russian ambush attempt. Instead of being destroyed, the Ukrainian troops instead fired on the Russian troops, destroying their equipment.
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Russian forces set up a tank ambush in Kursk region, but Ukrainian forces ambushed them and destroyed the equipment. pic.twitter.com/AcpqW26zCV
All this comes at an increasing price for Ukraine.
Firm numbers on casualties and equipment losses are impossible to come by. However, a recent visit by The Economistto a hospital in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast across the border from the fighting suggests the toll on troops is increasing.
“…accounts from Ukraine’s wounded suggest [the invasion] has not been a walk in the park, and remains risky,” the publication reported after interviewing several wounded troops.
There is also increasing visual evidence of equipment losses in this operation.
Russian Lancet strike leads to catastrophic explosion of Ukrainian tank in #Kursk oblast. Lack of air / drone defense remains main vulnerability of the Ukrainian army push in western Russia. pic.twitter.com/BmohnfcfDm
This US-provided Stryker was hit by a Russian RPG in Kursk region. The driver suffered a concussion but everyone survived, thanks to a thick layer of armor. Ukrainian troops were using parts to patch up others and the rest of it will be sent back to Germany for repairs. pic.twitter.com/yWMUvLqf3u
Russia too is paying a heavy price for this invasion.
“As of today, 28 settlements are under enemy control, the depth of penetration into the territory of the Kursk region is 12 kilometers, and the front’s width is 40 kilometers,” acting Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov told Putin on Monday.
So far, 12 civilians have been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, have been wounded, Smirnov claimed. About 121,000 people have been evacuated or left the areas affected by fighting on their own, he added.
For Russians, tracking down all the Ukrainian diversionary units roaming the region is difficult, Smirnov suggested, because some are using fake Russian IDs.
Kursk Governor told Putin how many settlemets were under Ukrainian control.
Not all the losses have been inflicted by Ukraine.
“A Russian Ka-52M helicopter attacked a Russian column of troops, as a result of which self-propelled gun 2S19M2 Msta-S was destroyed,” the Russia No Context Telegram channel reported.
Reported incident of friendly fire among Russian army on the Kursk front. Russians mistakenly took the Russian column for a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group: “Russian helicopter Ka-52M attacked Russian military column, as a result of which 2S19M2 Msta-S was destroyed.”… pic.twitter.com/2vXbD3Y1bb
While Black Bird Group’s Kastehelmi told us that the Ukrainian push into Belgorod had a far lighter presence, video emerged showing an initial Ukrainian thrust into Belgorod was backed up by armor.
Footage showing Ukrainian attacks at the border checkpoints near Kolotilovka and Bezymeno, Belgorod Oblast.
At the Kolotilovka checkpoint, a Ukrainian MaxxPro MRAP is struck (reportedly by ATMG, but looks more like a mine) while approaching, and FPV drone strike targets… pic.twitter.com/oLFlv0jAbt
Regardless, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, also announced the evacuation of people from a district near the Ukrainian border, describing Monday morning as “alarming” but giving no detail.
Residents there are also being evacuated.
Because of Putin's war, the governor of the Belgorod Zone is forced to personally travel around the villages and persuade residents, including very old people, to leave their homes. Whole villages are being evacuated. Krasnaya Yaruga district. pic.twitter.com/LS3LPC1n08
Germany’s Defense Ministry (MoD) gave its approval for Ukraine to use equipment donated by Berlin as they saw fit.
“After the weapons from Germany were handed over to Ukraine, they already belong to Ukraine, they are Ukrainian weapons… There are no obstacles, so Ukraine is free to choose opportunities,” a German MoD spokesman told Ukrainian news outlet Ukrinform on Monday.
BREAKING
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Germany Allows use not only tanks but all German Weapons transferred to Ukraine on russian Territory
During a visit to Kyiv on Monday, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called Ukraine’s shock cross-border operation into Russia’s Kursk region “brilliant” and “bold” and urged the Biden administration to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs.
U.S. Senator Graham:
Ukrainian operation in Kursk region is bold, brilliant and beautiful. Keep it up.
If nothing else, as one retired Ukrainian general told us, this invasion has drastically boosted his country’s morale. The coming days will give us a better indication of what actual strategic gains, if any, it actually delivers.
Update: 7:16 PM Eastern –
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Roman Kostenko said he will be missing some future votes, but offered a good excuse. He said he joined his nation’s offensive into Russia.
Ukrainian MP Roman Kostenko posted a video earlier today explaining to his fellow parliament members that he will be unavailable for votes in the near future.
He proceeds to cross into Kursk Oblast, joining the Ukrainian offensive into Russia. pic.twitter.com/24uqwjHLq4
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