Z-channels announce a Russian counter-offensive in the Kursk region: do the Russians have any prospects?
11 September 2024 18:52
РОЗБІР ВІД 
Scenes of the Kursk operation. The Ukrainian defence forces slowed down their advance, and Z-channels reported the start of a large-scale counter-offensive by the Russian army in the Kursk region. "Komersant Ukrainian" looked into what is really happening in Russia and whether the Ukrainian military has fulfilled its tasks in the Kursk region
What do the so-called Russian military commanders say?
On 10-11 September, Z-channels first started talking about Russia’s counter-offensive in the Kursk region. According to the Mash telegram channel, which is affiliated with the security forces, Russian troops allegedly advanced in the Kursk region over an area of about 150 square kilometres. Marines from the 155th and 810th Brigades, as well as the 56th Airborne Regiment, are taking part in the counterattack.
The Rybar telegram channel, which is close to the Russian Ministry of Defence, writes that local counterattacks were carried out in the Korenivka district, after which the settlements of Gordiyivka and Raptove on the western flank of the Ukrainian army bridgehead were liberated.
The Dva Maiory telegram channel claims that Russian troops have advanced near the settlements of Byakhovo, Snahost and Apanasivka, and have also engaged in fighting for Viktorivka.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering very heavy losses in the Kursk region and are beginning to realise that it is difficult for them to hold this territory,” said Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces.
The WarGonzo telegram channel notes that there is no evidence of any settlements in the Kursk region coming under Russian control.
What is really happening in the Kursk region?
Information about the Russian army’s counterattack was confirmed by the Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState. According to their data, the Russians sent armoured vehicles across the Seim River in the Hlushkiv district, and then through smaller rivers.
“The situation on the left flank of our [Ukrainian] group in Kursk region has deteriorated” – DeepState
At the same time, the battlefield in Russia is expanding. On the one hand, the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, allegedly denies rumours that Zhuravlivka was taken by the Ukrainian armed forces. On the other hand, he states that the situation in the area of Zhuravlivka, Belgorod Region, is not easy, and there are battles.
In an exclusive commentary to , retired Colonel Roman Svitan of the Armed Forces of Ukraine notes that what is happening in the Kursk region is the task of the operation at the moment.
“The first task has already been completed, it is a preventive strike. We broke the group and took better positions for defence. The second task is to restrain the enemy, which will result in various levels of operations: offensive and defensive, to limit the enemy in combat,” Roman Svitan
The operation in Kursk region is going according to plan
We observe that the enemy is coming out to engage in combat, and this is exactly what we need now, says Roman Svitan. He says that the more Ukrainian forces engage the enemy in combat in this area, the fewer reserves the enemy will have on the Eastern Front.
The retired colonel does not see anything critical in the overall picture in Kursk region.
“As for the technologies of the Russians’ combat missions, they crossed the Seim, threw over several pontoon crossings, which we then destroyed, and the enemy entered an operational encirclement. There is an operational cauldron in the area between Tiotkino and Sudzhi. The Russians have to force the Seim in one direction or the other,” Roman Svitan
According to Svitan, at least three major units have been sent to the Kursk direction. These are the 106th Guards Airborne Tula Division, which is in the cauldron, the 810th Separate Marine Brigade and the 155th Separate Marine Brigade.
Roman Svitan concludes that the most important thing now is that the Russians do not stop the fighting near Kursk and do not move to the Donetsk direction. The operation in the Kursk region is going according to plan.
Author – Anastasia Fedor
