Russia Fighting continues in Kursk
Following the invasion of Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk, fighting is continuing in numerous localities there. Russian military bloggers spoke of a restless night and attempts by the Ukrainian armed forces to continue "a blitzkrieg".
10.08.2024, 10:09
SDA
There was still no information from Ukraine itself about the operation, which has been ongoing since Tuesday.
In the morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense published another video showing an increased military presence in the region. Tanks could be seen taking up combat positions to destroy Ukrainian troops. The footage could not be independently verified. The ministry also reported numerous repulsed Ukrainian drone attacks in the Kursk region.
"At the moment, the situation has stabilized," wrote military blogger Alexander Kharchenko in a situation report published by the Telegram channel Rybar. Russian units are making progress. "Sudzha is standing, the command is making every effort to clear the city of the enemy," said Kharchenko, referring to a location in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border. "If the enemy does not deploy significant forces unexpectedly in one place, then we can say that the peak of the crisis has passed."
Three zones for anti-terror operations for tougher action
On Saturday night, the Russian leadership declared the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions to be special zones for anti-terrorist operations. This extends the powers of the Ministry of Defense and other parts of the security apparatus to take tougher action. Military bloggers had already called for this step after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022.
An unverifiable video circulated on social networks showing men in uniform with Ukrainian flags in the village of Poros in the Russian region of Belgorod, just a few kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Media critical of the Kremlin described this as a possible diversionary maneuver by the Ukrainian armed forces. There was no official information on this. Following massive attacks from the Ukrainian side last year, residents had already abandoned entire villages on the border.
According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington, the Russian Ministry of Defense is still trying to refrain from withdrawing troops from the front in Ukraine itself in order to reinforce units in Kursk. Russia has also recently extended the protection of the Kursk nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned of potential dangers. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called on both sides to adhere to the rules for nuclear safety in conflict zones.
