Ukraine has made notable progress in multiple areas of Russia’s Kursk region, with recent maps showcasing their advances. This comes nearly two weeks after the Ukrainian incursion began, leaving Moscow struggling to manage the situation.
Ukrainian forces reportedly took control of the villages of Apanaskovka and Byakhovo, as highlighted by a Russian source on Saturday, according to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW). These villages are situated south of Korenovo, a hotspot for heavy combat over the past week and a half.
Geolocated videos suggest that Ukrainian troops have also pushed into the southwest of Russkoye Porechnoye, further indicating their momentum in this cross-border offensive.
The incursion marks the largest Ukrainian advance into Russian territory since the onset of full-scale warfare nearly two and a half years ago.
NEW: It is too early to assess the outcomes and operational significance of the Ukrainian incursion into Russia and the ongoing Russian offensive effort in eastern Ukraine. 🧵(1/14)
1/ The Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast has already generated theater-wide operational and… pic.twitter.com/DCg9vAGswl
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) August 18, 2024
As Ukraine pressed forward, Russia faced challenges in mounting an effective response. Key targets included the Sudzha and Korenevo areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced earlier this week the capture of Sudzha, emphasizing Ukraine’s territorial gains in the region.
Zelensky claimed, “The operation is unfolding exactly as we expected,” during his address on Saturday evening. “Now we are reinforcing our positions, and our foothold is strengthening.”
Despite Russian officials insisting their forces under a federal security service-led “counterterrorism operation” had halted Ukrainian advances, several military bloggers and Western analyses demonstrated otherwise. Moscow reportedly sent reinforcements to the border, as confirmed by influential military bloggers who mentioned “fierce fighting” and new Ukrainian reserves entering the battle.
AP
The neighboring Belgorod region also declared a federal state of emergency last Thursday, prompting reports of thousands leaving Kursk daily. The ISW estimated that Ukrainian forces advanced up to 28 kilometers (about 17.4 miles) into Kursk, although the area they are consolidating is likely smaller than this figure.
While Ukraine claims it doesn’t intend to hold the territory in Kursk, it aims to disrupt Russian logistics that support operations elsewhere and protect itself from aerial assaults. Recently, the Ukrainian air force reported the destruction of a second bridge in Kursk, further tightening the constraints on Russian supply lines.
A Russian Telegram channel attributed the bridge destruction in the village of Zvannoye to U.S.-supplied HIMARS, stating, “only one bridge remains in the district.” Additionally, Russia’s Foreign Ministry indicated that another bridge was reportedly destroyed, also likely by Western-made weapons, near Glushkovo.
In response, regional Russian authorities ordered evacuations in the Glushkovo district. The logistical situation is said to be worsening around Glushkovo, with Ukrainian forces targeting remaining bridges across the Seym River, prompting the Russian army to construct pontoon crossings.
This offensive follows a period of steady territorial gains for Russia in eastern Ukraine, including the capture of the strategic Donetsk city of Avdiivka. The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk has reportedly boosted morale, especially against the backdrop of Russia’s comparative advances. Zelensky remarked on Saturday that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Pokrovsk and Toretsk “dozens” of times within a single day.
As Russia contends with fighting on multiple fronts—Kursk and the advancing assault toward Pokrovsk—it may find its resources stretched thin, according to ISW assessments. This could complicate Moscow’s efforts to maintain pressure across a wide front.