Kursk counteroffensive begins: Russia targets Ukrainian troops

Sep 11

Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Russian forces initiated a significant counteroffensive in the Kursk region, targeting Ukrainian troops, marking the Kremlin’s first substantial military action in over five weeks. This operation, which began on Sept. 10, aims to dislodge Ukrainian forces from the area, with ongoing engagements reported into the following day.

The dynamics of the conflict are still unclear, with some reports suggesting that the troops involved may come from the front lines in eastern Ukraine or reserves from other parts of Russia.

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Elements of the 155th Marine Brigade, traditionally based in Vladivostok and veterans of the conflict in Ukraine, are reported to be participating in the offensive. However, the Russian Defense Ministry has not confirmed these actions, and Ukrainian officials have not acknowledged the counteroffensive.

Russian military blogger channel Rybar, which has over 1 million subscribers, reported that Russian forces successfully recaptured at least two localities with minimal resistance.

This counteroffensive is taking place against the backdrop of an ongoing larger conflict.

In August, Ukraine achieved a significant military incursion into Russia — the first of its kind since World War II — claiming control of about 500 square miles of Russian territory.

DeepState, a mapping service affiliated with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, reported that Russian troops had crossed the Seym River in Kursk with armored units. This move complicates Ukraine’s tactical situation, especially after its efforts to destroy bridges to impede Russian advances.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukraine’s actions in Kursk have not hindered Russia’s advances in eastern Ukraine. Instead, he claimed they had weakened Kyiv’s defenses, allowing Russian forces to accelerate their offensive in the Donbas region, a critical strategic objective for Moscow.

Despite these developments, Russia continues its military operations in eastern Ukraine, with ongoing efforts to advance toward Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Tags: Kursk, Military Defense, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

RUSSIAN FORCES LAUNCHED A MAJOR COUNTER-OFFENSIVE IN THE KURSK REGION, TARGETING UKRAINIAN TROOPS. THIS MARKS THE KREMLIN’S FIRST SIGNIFICANT ACTION IN OVER FIVE WEEKS SINCE THE START OF KYIV’S INCURSION, AIMING TO DISLODGE UKRAINIAN FORCES FROM THE AREA.

THE OPERATION STARTED SEPTEMBER 10TH , WITH ENGAGEMENTS SPILLING OVER INTO THE NEXT DAY ACCORDING TO A TOP RUSSIAN MILITARY COMMANDER. THE CONFLICT’S DYNAMICS REMAIN VAGUE, WITH REPORTS SUGGESTING THE TROOPS MIGHT BE FROM THE FRONT LINES IN EASTERN UKRAINE OR RESERVES BROUGHT IN FROM OTHER PARTS OF RUSSIA.

ACCORDING TO MILITARY SOURCES, ELEMENTS OF THE 155TH MARINE BRIGADE, TRADITIONALLY BASED IN VLADIVOSTOK AND VETERANS OF THE UKRAINE CONFLICT, ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFENSIVE. HOWEVER, THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY HAS YET TO CONFIRM THESE ACTIONS. UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE EITHER

REPORTS FROM THE RYBAR TELEGRAM CHANNEL, A RUSSIAN MILITARY BLOGGER CHANNEL BOASTING ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, INDICATE RUSSIAN FORCES RECAPTURED AT LEAST TWO AREAS AND CLAIMED SUCCESS WITH MINIMAL RESISTANCE.

THIS COUNTEROFFENSIVE OCCURS IN THE BACKDROP OF A LARGER ONGOING CONFLICT, WHERE UKRAINE MANAGED A HISTORIC MILITARY PUSH INTO RUSSIA—THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SINCE WORLD WAR II—SEIZING CONTROL OF APPROXIMATELY 500 SQUARE MILES OF RUSSIAN TERRITORY IN AUGUST.

ANALYSTS FROM DEEPSTATE, A MAPPING SERVICE AFFILIATED WITH THE UKRAINIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY, REPORT RUSSIAN TROOPS CROSSED THE SEYM RIVER IN KURSK WITH ARMORED UNITS — further complicating UKRAINE’S TACTICAL advantage — PARTICULARLY AFTER THEIR ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY BRIDGES TO SLOW RUSSIAN ADVANCES.

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN CLAIMED UKRAINE’S ACTIONS IN KURSK DIDN’T IMPEDE RUSSIA’S ADVANCES IN EASTERN UKRAINE. INSTEAD, HE ARGUED, THEY WEAKENED KYIV’S DEFENSES, ENABLING RUSSIAN FORCES TO ACCELERATE THEIR OFFENSIVE IN THE DONBAS REGION, A KEY STRATEGIC GOAL FOR MOSCOW.

DESPITE THESE DEVELOPMENTS, RUSSIA CONTINUES ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN EASTERN UKRAINE, PARTICULARLY PUSHING TOWARDS POKROVSK IN THE DONETSK REGION.