Ukraine's first month in Russia’s Kursk region: overview

On his Telegram channel, Oleksandr Kovalenko reported that Ukrainian forces have achieved significant progress by capturing approximately 1,300 km² of territory in Russia’s Kursk region. This advance has established a buffer zone along the border with Ukraine’s Sumy region.

According to Kovalenko, Ukrainian forces have successfully compelled the Russian military to redeploy resources and troops from other combat zones in Ukraine to the Kursk region. He noted that as of early August, the Russian troop presence in Kursk was around 10,000 personnel, but it has since grown to 35,000.

Russian units involved:

• The 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade

• The 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment

• The 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade

• The 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade

• The 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division

• The 71st Motor Rifle Regiment

• The 38th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade

• The 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade

• The 200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade are engaged

• The “Pyatnashka” Brigade 

Kovalenko mentioned that there are rumors of the presence of "Akhmat" forces, but Ukrainian troops have yet to encounter them.

Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the number of Russian losses in the Kursk region, stating that 6,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded. 

According to the military expert, with the current Russian force size at 35,000, the total Russian troop commitment in the Kursk region over the past month amounts to approximately 41,000. Despite the reinforcements, Russian troops are struggling to stabilize the situation and continue to lose territory. Kovalenko suggested that this might force Russia to deploy additional forces, potentially increasing their presence in the Kursk region to at least 50,000.

Kovalenko added that Ukrainian forces have disrupted Russian logistics by cutting the crucial rail link through Sudzha and targeting key roadways, including the E-38 highway from Kursk to Rylsk. They have also seized the largest gas distribution station in Sudzha, a significant strategic asset.

Initially, Russian representatives declared an end to negotiations with Ukraine, including those concerning prisoner exchanges. However, Kovalenko reported that on August 24, a prisoner exchange took place, with 115 prisoners from each side being exchanged.

Kovalenko concluded that the Kursk operation has inflicted a level of humiliation on Russia not seen since World War II, emphasizing the significant impact on Russia’s reputation and the ongoing difficulties in addressing and countering the Ukrainian advances.

Ukraine’s cross-border incursion in Russia’s Kursk region

On August 6, the authorities of Russia's Kursk region stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly tried to break through the Russian border, but were pushed back. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that "the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated to its territory.”

On August 7, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin convened the Russian military leadership to discuss the situation in the Kursk region, which he called a "large-scale provocation." At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international community to "strongly condemn the Kyiv regime's criminal attacks on Russian territory."

On August 10, President Zelenskyy called the operation in the Kursk region “pushing the war into the aggressor's territory.” At night of the same day, the authorities introduced a counterterrorism operation in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions of Russia.