Ukraine attacks Kursk Oblast

Two weeks after the incursion into the Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian forces are still reportedly advancing further into Russian territory, claiming to hold 92 settlements and an area of 1250 square kilometres as of the end of 19th August.

While there have been previous cross-border operations by Ukrainian special forces, and pro-Ukrainian paramilitary forces, this is a major operation involving thousands of troops, advancing with tanks and armoured vehicles.

Map of Ukraine incursion into Kursk Oblast (6 - 20 August 2024)

This marks the first instance of foreign forces capturing and holding Russian territory since Operation Barbarossa in 1941, enacted by Nazi Germany and its Axis allies. The Russians seem to have been caught completely unprepared, in stark contrast to the 1943 Battle of Kursk, during Operation Citadel.

The operational and strategic goals of Ukraine’s Kursk incursion is unclear, however one such aim is definitely to disrupt the Russian war effort elsewhere in Ukraine. It also strengthens Ukraine’s position in any future negotiations with Russia, as well as showing the world it is still capable of effective combat operations after a failed counter-offensive in 2023.

Russian minefields in Sudzha

Ukrainian forces cleared Russian minefields during the initial phase of the operation, with Russian forces hastily deploying minefields in the path of the Ukrainians, even placing them on roads still used by civilians. This can be seen in the event below, with civilians weaving between a double staggered row of anti-tank mines.

TM-62M: Russian Anti-Tank mine

The TM-62M (ТМ-62М) is a Soviet-era-developed, Russian Federation, large, squat-cylindrical-shaped, metal-cased, anti-tank (AT) blast mine, which may be encountered with a number of different high explosive fills and fuzes.

KURSK OBLAST: 06 AUGUST 2024

"Incredible footage of the brave mine-clearance team of the 225th Assault Battalion first breaching enemy defenses in Kursk A UR-77 engineering unit conducted controlled detonations in the minefield and overcame a border anti-tank ditch"

SUDZA: 08 AUGUST 2024

"Russia lost control of Sudzha, Kursk region to Ukraine. The footage shows many abandoned civilian cars, and the car of the filming crew is constantly under small arms fire. There are TM-62 anti-tank mines on the roads.."

KURSK OBLAST: 12 AUGUST 2024

"An American HMMWV used by the AFU hit an anti-tank TM-62 mine in the Kursk region. It's worth noting that the vehicle is highly durable, and those inside likely survived the explosion."

Russian TM-62M Mines laid on a highway in Sudza. Read More

Russian allegations of chemical weapon usage by Ukraine

The Russians have alleged Ukrainian forces used chemical weapons. Russian officials, including the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, Alexei Smirnov, accused Ukraine of using chemical weapons on power company workers who were restoring electricity in the region. The workers, along with local police officers and the village council head, were reportedly poisoned but sustained no serious injuries. 

KURSK Oblast: 11 AUGUST 2024

"Ukrainian forces have used chemical weapons in an attack on a group of power company workers in Russia’s Kursk Region, acting Governor Aleksey Smirnov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday."

The Aida special forces group claim to have been targeted with 155 mm artillery projectiles containing hexachloroethane, although the exact nature of the chemical agent is disputed. A photo showing a cloud of orange-tinged smoke has been falsely claimed to depict a chemical attack. Social media posts falsely attributed the image to a recent chemical attack by Ukrainian forces, claiming that they used chlorine-filled shells. However, the photo actually originates from a 2015 BBC News video showing a controlled explosion involving chlorine gas in Iraq, used by Islamic State militants. There is no credible evidence of chemical weapons being used in Kursk Oblast at the time of writing.

IRAQ: 12 MARCH 2015

"Iraqi officials have shown the BBC videos that they say confirm Islamic State militants are using chlorine gas in some crude home-made bombs."

Russian supply line disruption

Ukraine attacks on Russian supply lines in Kursk, via strikes on infrastructure and logistics hubs, are reportedly hampering their operations to tackle the Ukrainian forces. Several bridges over the Seym river have been destroyed by aerial bombing, indicating that the Ukrainian air force is able to operate even with Russian air defences present. The railway station at Lgov and a communications hub at Rylsk have also been struck. Lgov station is reported to be an important logistics hub, with lines to the city of Kursk and the Kursk nuclear power plant, and elsewhere in the region.

LGOV: 15 AUGUST 2024

"Russian reporter films incoming strike at the Lgov Railway station, Kursk strike locations"

RYLSK: 16 AUGUST 2024

"Ukraine attacks Russian Communications in Rylsk, Kursk Oblast. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development announced today that local Rostelecom branch workers were attacked while working to restore communications"

ZVANNOYE: 18 AUGUST 2024

"Ukrainian forces hit the bridge over the Seim River near the village of Zvannoye, Kursk region."

SIEM RIVER: 19 AUGUST 2024

"Ukrainian forces hit the third bridge over the Seim River in Russia's Kursk Oblast, an official of the Russian Investigative Committee claimed in a video published on Aug. 19."

KARYZH: 19 AUGUST 2024

"Ukraine's forces have destroyed the final bridge over the Seym river located in the village of Karyzh in Russia's Kursk region, according to Russian officials."

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates when available.

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