Ukrainian forces have made advances into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, potentially setting in motion the encirclement of thousands of Russian troops, according to a Forbes report by David Axe. The incursion began early August, re-gaining momentum last week.
Last week, the Ukrainian tactical group, reportedly anchored by the 95th Air Assault Brigade, started advancing through the southern blocks of Veseloe, a Russian town near Novyi Put. This movement appears to be part of a larger strategy to connect with Ukrainian forces in the main Kursk salient, potentially trapping Russian troops between them and the border, according to Forbes.
The Ukrainian Khorne Group, a team of drone operators supporting the attack, stated on 15 September,
“We’ve advanced into new areas, by kilometers, into Russia. A group of Russian conscripts numbering in the thousands is at risk of being encircled.”
According to Forbes, the local geography is facilitating the Ukrainian operation, with the Seym River forming a natural boundary along the northern edge of the potential pocket. Ukrainian forces have destroyed permanent bridges over the Seym, forcing Russian troops to rely on temporary pontoon bridges or a narrow land bridge through the town of Korenevo for resupply.
The idea that Ukraine may be planning to cut off the Glushkovo district, isolated from the rest of Kursk Oblast by the Seym River on two sides and the conflict zone to the east, became evident when Ukrainian forces began targeting and destroying bridges over the Seym:
Ukraine cut off almost entire Glushkovo district in Kursk, Russians say
While the Ukrainian strategy appears promising, the balance of forces in Kursk may impact the operation’s success. Ukraine has committed around 10,000 troops to the invasion, while Russia reportedly has about 38,000 troops in the oblast, many of whom are described as poorly-trained young conscripts, Forbes notes.
However, Ukraine faces significant challenges in terms of equipment and manpower, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that only four of 14 new Ukrainian brigades have enough modern vehicles.
Related:
- Politico: Ukraine launched Kursk incursion despite objections from some top brass
- Frontline report: Ukraine launches cross-border “counter-counter-offensive” towards Russia’s Glushkovo
- Forbes: Ukraine expands incursion into Russia with new thrust into Kursk Oblast
- ISW: Russians may struggle to maintain offensive tempo in Donetsk after Kursk redeployments
