On August 6, Russian propagandists claimed there was an alleged raid by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. As of August 7, “military sources” report rapid advancement of Ukrainian forces, especially towards Sudzha.
Conflicting Versions of Events
Russia made a communication error – failing to coordinate its versions of events. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that the Russian authorities of the Kursk region and the Russian Ministry of Defense made conflicting statements. Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov reported battles in border areas, while the Ministry of Defense and the FSB claimed that attempts to “break through” the border had been repelled.
Unconfirmed Raids and Videos
Bloggers were the first to react to the events, and certain videos appeared on social media and unofficial news publications. Some Russian “bloggers” reported that on August 6, Ukrainian forces conducted a series of raids across the border. Geolocation shots show damaged armored vehicles about seven kilometers from the border, but ISW cannot confirm whose vehicles these are. The Russian Ministry of Defense and the Chechen special forces “Akhmat” claimed to have repelled the raids, but analysts cannot verify these claims.
Ukrainian Troops in the Kursk Region
Telegram channels supporting the Russian government claim that Ukrainian troops entered the Kursk region and have settled in the border zone. According to various sources, one or two battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine entered the Kursk region, and they are “impossible to dislodge.”
Why Sudzha Is So Important
Russian resources state that the goal of Ukrainian forces is the city of Sudzha, located approximately 10 kilometers from the border with the Sumy region. Control of Sudzha gives Ukraine fire control over logistical routes, a crucial railway line, and a gas pipeline supplying gas to Hungary.
Russia’s Reaction
Russian aviation threatens to destroy Sudzha if it is captured by Ukrainian forces. As of 15:00 on August 7, “VYSKCORI” reports that the Russian city of Sudzha is under Ukrainian control, but there is no official confirmation from either side. According to Russian sources, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have taken three villages in the Sudzha district and advanced towards the outskirts of Sudzha.
What the Ukrainian Side Says
As of August 7, the Ukrainian side has not commented on the events in the Kursk region. Some sources suggest that the purpose of the operation is to divert Russian forces from other hotspots on the frontlines or to distract attention from some other major operation.
Evacuation of Local Residents
Local residents have started evacuating from areas where fighting is ongoing on their own. Several thousand people have left the region, but they complain about the lack of assistance from the authorities.
Putin’s Reaction
After a prolonged period of silence, which has become traditional in recent years in cases of major events of federal significance, Vladimir Putin made a statement regarding the events in the Kursk region, calling them a “massive provocation.” He promised support for the Kursk region and announced a massive missile strike on Kyiv.
These events indicate a serious escalation of the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border and the possibility of a large-scale offensive from both sides.
