Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk region weakens Russia’s position. Serhiy Zgurets’ column

Frontline situation in Kursk region

Let's start with the Kursk region, which remains the focus of combat activity. On January 6, over 200 combat clashes occurred across the entire front line, with half of them taking place in the Kursk region. The Russians attempted to attack Ukrainian positions 94 times in response to Ukrainian Armed Forces attacks and advances southeast of Sudzha.

On January 7, the Ukrainian Armed Forces delivered a precision strike on the command post of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces. This is not the first such strike, combining precision weapons, reconnaissance tools, electronic warfare, enemy detection systems, and mobile battlefield tactics. These are the characteristics of Ukrainian brigades, which effectively conduct combat operations in this direction, utilizing technological solutions provided by Ukrainian industries and partners.

By the way, some tactics and approaches are born directly on the battlefield. On January 6, the Airborne Assault Forces Command published a video showing soldiers from the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade from Lviv using a Stryker APC to destroy their enemy in Kursk. The paratroopers ran out of ammunition, but they did not panic and began crushing Russians with both the wheels and armor of their vehicle.

This video can be considered the "video of the day," as it vividly demonstrates how Russian infantry is hunted in the fields of the Kursk region. The situation arose when the soldier ran out of ammunition, but the vehicle's driver identified targets, and the combat module operator used personal firearms to eliminate Russian soldiers.

On January 6, the General Staff summarized the results of five months of fighting in the Kursk region. Russia’s losses were reported as 38,000 personnel, including 15,000 killed, 104 tanks, over 570 armored vehicles, and more than 1,000 other pieces of equipment. This is an extremely positive result, considering the difficulty of combat in this sector, indicating that the war of attrition is clearly not working in Russia’s favor.

Ukrainian officer proposes AFU reforms 

Experienced brigades with effective leadership are operating in the Kursk region, forming a vital part of the combat system we aim to build. In this context, it is worth mentioning an article by Andriy Biletskyi, commander of Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, published yesterday in Ukrainska Pravda. This brigade is well-known for its significant successes and has grown to a size that may now rival a division. Whether in defense or offense, the brigade consistently delivers effective results, thanks to thorough personnel training, quality planning, and strategic battlefield deployment.

Biletskyi’s article, titled Whether There Is a Truce or Not, We Will Transform or Die, is noteworthy for its insights, approaches, and battlefield-tested strategies. These are critically important as discussions about the need for transformation within the Ukrainian Armed Forces gain momentum. His proposals can be divided into two key areas: preparation and planning/deployment.

When discussing preparation, Andriy Biletskyi emphasizes the importance of recruitment that aligns with specific roles, ensuring individuals with relevant skills are immediately placed in appropriate positions. To achieve this, various methods are employed, including advertisements for the 3rd Assault Brigade. These ads once caused a stir and became a significant factor in increasing the number of people eager to serve in this unit.

The second component is ensuring a high-quality and professional level of combat training for both new recruits and those who have already been in service for some time. Proper training is critical for fully utilizing the potential of the entire unit on the battlefield.

The third component is the creation of a strong non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps. The NCO corps forms the backbone of any military unit. Often underestimated, it is not merely an adjunct to officers but a parallel structure that officers can rely on. Well-trained sergeants provide substantial support to officers during combat operations.

The largest area for improvement is a radical shift in staff culture, focusing on the preparation of officers for staff work. Biletskyi describes the current situation as dire. According to the commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, staff work now demands a high level of intellect and motivation. Specialists should be assigned to staff positions based on appropriate testing, not just their rank, which is an entirely correct approach.

He also emphasizes the need to train officers in groups that can later collaborate effectively within various units. Biletskyi notes that the 3rd Assault Brigade has already developed methods for training officers. These methods are ready to be shared with other brigades if the Land Forces Command considers these recommendations.

The next section of the article focuses on what follows preparation and planning - namely, the deployment and use of troops on the battlefield. Biletskyi reiterates the need for a complete ban on dispersing forces, where units are broken into brigades or companies and scattered across different areas. The commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade emphasizes, as many military experts have, that it is better to fight with a smaller but cohesive force than with a "mishmash" of transferred units. Biletskyi is adamant on this point.

Another key topic is the transition of tactical structures into divisions and corps. This scaling up would not only put an end to the fragmentation of forces but also enhance combat coordination in specific sectors of the front, improving both defensive and offensive operations.

The idea of creating corps was mentioned by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a speech two months ago. It is hoped that this process is underway and that these statements will lead to structural changes in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as such reforms are crucial for improving the effectiveness of the command system.

Biletskyi then discusses technological advancements, particularly the introduction of robotic platforms. He emphasizes ground-based unmanned systems and the creation of specialized units to reduce the burden on infantry. Biletskyi views this as a critical and technological shift necessary to transform combat tactics. His article includes specific proposals for structural changes involving robotic platforms. These important topics will likely be revisited in future discussions.

Currently, the defense industry must operate at full capacity to support the Armed Forces. Biletskyi also highlights in his thought-provoking article that the defense sector should have the capability to export. If certain production teams can supply weapons to the Armed Forces while maintaining additional manufacturing capacity, they should be allowed to export their products. The foreign currency generated from these export contracts could then be directed toward developing new systems, which would primarily serve the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Domestic military-industrial complex

When we talk about the private and state defense industry, we often mention private companies that build well-known systems, such as the Bohdana artillery system, armored vehicles, mortars, and much more. There are also state-owned companies that produce powerful projects like the Neptun cruise missile and other developments.

However, there are projects that are not particularly interesting to large state or even private companies. This is where grassroots initiatives come into play, where products and initiatives are created that truly help the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Yevhen Volnov, head of DrukArmiya, explained that the company’s activities began as a response to a request from the military. New weapons emerged - drones, specifically FPV drones - and neither Ukraine's defense industry nor any other was prepared for something like this. There were no factories or production facilities for manufacturing parts for military FPV drones. For example, DrukArmiya produces shells that are entirely 3D-printed, although these are not considered weapons; some might call them "cold shells" because they are hollow inside. However, the military can add what is necessary inside and attach such a shell to a drone to send it over the heads of the invaders. Anyone can create such a shell by simply having a 3D printer at home, loading the necessary program, and obtaining the model files from DrukArmiya. The printer then starts printing shells one after another. Additionally, a 3D printer can be used to print a mock-up of an antipersonnel mine to show mobilized soldiers what it looks like and explain how to avoid stepping on it.

The head of DrukArmiya noted that there are currently 3,000 active printers. Some individuals have just one printer, while others have 50, meaning there are varying capacities. The strength of DrukArmiya lies in its decentralized system, which functions in such a way that no missile or Shahed drone can target a location to destroy such capabilities. In addition to the printers, there are hundreds of curators - people who work on specific products or several products, improving them and receiving feedback from the military. There are also dozens of IT specialists working to improve the system. All conscious Ukrainians are joining DrukArmiya, though not everyone knows about it yet. And those who find out cannot resist joining such a productive process.

Volnov explained that joining the team is very simple. All one needs to do is search for DrukArmiya on Google, find the company's website link, and register. If you are a civilian, you register as a civilian, and if you are military, you register as a military member. Then you can check out the School section, which contains all the necessary information. In addition, military personnel can learn about the latest developments. In 2024, DrukArmiya’s printers produced 277,000 kg of products, demonstrating the immense scale of production by the people’s defense industry.