Russia likely redeploys troops from southern Ukraine to Kursk region - military

He shared this information on Espreso TV.

"It hasn't made a drastic impact yet, and it's not something that happens overnight — we understand and see this. Regarding the Kursk region, their North troop group is stationed there, attempting to counter Ukrainian Forces using internal reserves, possibly setting up the first and even a second defense line."

"As for the units moved towards Kursk from the south, we suspect these might be airborne troops from the Kherson area — though I stress, this information needs verification. Russian troops are constantly shifting in this region. Maybe up to two battalions, but that's probably the most we can confirm at this point," Bratchuk stated.

Additionally, he noted that the Russians might have redeployed some of their troops from the Zaporizhzhia region.

"Some units from the Zaporizhzhia direction may have been redirected, which has slowed down Russian activity a bit on the Vremivka bridgehead. Thankfully, the Russians didn't achieve their objective – they planned to cut off that bridgehead, stabilize the front line, and advance towards Orikhiv and Zaporizhzhia, that's why they had resumed positional battles in the Huliaypole direction."

“Regarding the Kherson region, Russia's 810th Marine Infantry Brigade was also moved, with some units ending up in the Pokrovsk direction. They did not stay there for long, because the events in the Kursk region of Russia began, so they were being transferred to the Kursk region. And then, literally in the first days of these movements, they got into that column that was hit and burned down, and there is confirmation — both photos and videos — where exactly these marines are. Some of these marines were also captured — it will be valuable for POW exchanges," Bratchuk noted.

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 allegedly pushed back. Later, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that "the Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group retreated to its territory.”

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate refused to comment on the statements regarding the Kursk region. However, NV media, citing its own source in Ukrainian intelligence, wrote that the events in the Kursk region "definitely did not involve fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who are fighting as part of Ukraine's Armed Forces.”

The Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russian Defense Ministry, acting governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov, and some propagandists have different versions of the events in the Kursk region.

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 the same day, Russian media reported that workers at the Kursk nuclear power plant feared that the plant's management had not prepared for a possible attack by the Ukrainian armed forces.

Additionally, in the Kursk region, the Russians have started forming UAV operator units from civilians, providing them with up to 10 hours of training.

On August 7, a state of emergency was introduced in the Kursk region.

On August 8, the Institute for War Studies reported that Ukrainian troops confirmed advancing up to 10 km deep into the Kursk region as mechanized offensives continued.

On August 8, Russia’s National Guard announced that it had implemented additional security measures at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant to protect a "particularly important facility."

The Washington Post reported that Ukraine has taken control of the gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk region. Previously, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had occupied several border villages and part of the town of Sudzha.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Ukraine’s actions in the Kursk region in Russia "are consistent with U.S. policy" and do not cause any escalation.

On Friday, August 9, it was reported that terrorists from PMC Wagner intend to fight for Russia in the Kursk region.

On August 13, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine controls 74 settlements in Russia's Kursk region.