1/ Numerous adverts have appeared on Avito, Russia's equivalent of eBay, seeking workers to dig trenches in the Kursk region. It's likely that this is related to the rapid construction of a trench network located well behind the current front line. ⬇️
2/ As reported by @Osinttechnical, the Russians are racing to dig a trench network in an arc about 45 km from the border. They likely intend to convert the battle from a dynamic to a positional one, which would be harder for Ukraine to overcome.
3/ The Avito adverts typically ask for "workers [who are] urgently required in the Kursk region for the construction of fortification structures (trenches, pillboxes, anti-tank structures)." They offer between 5,000–7,000 rubles per shift ($56–78). No experience is required.
4/ The advertisers, who are construction firms around Russia, generally offer a salary of between 150,000-210,000 rubles per month ($1,676–$2,346). One advert for a crawler operator indicates that the city of Kursk itself is being fortified as the "second line of defence".
5/ The fortification work is clearly being driven at a high pace, as its schedule is described as being "round the clock." Most adverts do not specify the number of workers needed, though one says it is looking for "50–100 people" to dig trenches in Kursk.
6/ The advertisers are evidently trying to find anyone they can. One specifies that it will accept people over 45, pensioners, students, people with health problems, ex-convicts and non-Russians. Another says that if you "bring a friend" you will be given 10,000 rubles ($112).
7/ As perks, they offer clothing, personal protective equipment, transportation, "🏠Accommodation!", "🍔Nutrition!". (But no drinking is allowed on site.) One offers a "bulletproof vest at the expense of the organisation"; another promises "body armour + radio".
8/ One advert emphasises that the work will be "outside the combat zone" and that "there is no danger at work." (This is not strictly true, as the Ukrainians have repeatedly hit Russian excavators with drones and missiles.)
9/ Nonetheless, advertisers are urging potential applicants to do the patriotic thing and fulfil their "desire to work and 💪help in the current situation." As one puts it, "⚪️🔵🔴 Let's defend the honour of OUR MOTHERLAND ⚪️🔵🔴". /end
1/ Hundreds of Russians who have refused to fight for various reasons – age, sickness, mental health – are reported to have been taken from a military base where they were being held and flown to Kursk, where they will likely be used in efforts to repel Ukraine's incursion. ⬇️
2/ ASTRA reports that hundreds of 'refuseniks' have been held at Kamenka near St Petersburg, where the 138th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade is based. Relatives say that some are unfit to fight, one man is 70 years old and can barely walk, and another has only one eye.
3/ The existence of the Kamenka military detention facility does not seem to have been reported previously. It suggests that different regimes are in place in Russia and occupied Ukraine, where refuseniks have been tortured, beaten and starved.
1/ Russia's far-right ultranationalist NOD movement has held a march in Magadan in Russia's Far East, demanding that Washington, D.C. be attacked with RS-24 Yars and RS-28 Sarmat ICBMs, plus the Poseidon intercontinental nuclear torpedo, in revenge for "Kursk and Kherson". ⬇️
2/ The NOD (National Liberation Movement) march was held on 11 August with the approval of the mayor's office, which allowed them to close the city's Gorky Street for the demonstration.
3/ The participants wore military dress while chanting "To Washington!" and carrying banners in the colours of St George's ribbon. They were accompanied by a "Sarmatmobile" with the inscription "I am Russian" and carrying a mock ICBM with the words "To Washington!" written on it.
1/ Further instances are being reported of wounded Russian soldiers being denied medical treatment and sent straight back into battle. This follows earlier reports that even soldiers with broken limbs are being forced to fight. ⬇️
2/ As previously reported, the Russian military has prohibited injured soldiers from being sent to hospitals or going on sick leave. Although nominally applying only to stormtroopers, ordinary contract soldiers are reportedly being treated the same way.
3/ 'Mobilisation News' reports the story of Private Vitaly Avlasevich, a gunner/radio operator in the 109th Independent Rifle Regiment (unit 34494). According to his wife, he was first wounded on 3 March 2023 but was not sent to hospital, let alone given leave or rehabilitation.
1/ @olliecarroll commented a few days ago on how "heavenly" the roads in the Kursk region look compared to elsewhere. At the same time, the building of border defences has clearly been neglected. Corruption is reportedly the reason for both phenomena. ⬇️
2/ The VChK-OGPU Telegram channel reports that Russia's Transport Minister, Roman Starovoyt, has been in an "agitated" state since Ukraine invaded the Kursk region. The reasons are said to lie in his previous role as head of the Kursk regional government.
3/ Starovoyt led the regional government from October 2018 to May 2024 before being promoted by Putin to Transport Minister. During that time, the channel reports, 16 billion rubles ($176 million) were supposed to have been spent on border defences in the Kursk region.
1/ The Russian publication 'Interesting Stories' has published a lengthy interview with a former Russian army officer who opposed the invasion of Ukraine. He explains how the Ukrainians were able to invade the Kursk region so easily. Here are some extracts. ⬇️
2/ The former officer comments that the Russian Volunteer Corps and Freedom of Russia Legion began mounting raids into the Kursk region in March 2024. This was done to observe "how quickly they respond to your arrival, how many forces are there, where, what, how."
3/ While the Ukrainians were gathering intelligence on the ground, the officer says, the Russians didn't react: "what changed on our side [on the border] in six months? Fucking nothing."
1/ A Russian soldier captured by Ukraine recorded himself looting an abandoned house in the Kursk region. The video was reportedly retrieved from his mobile phone. It potentially corroborates reports of widespread looting from their own civilians by the Russian military. ⬇️
2/ In the video, the man shows himself wandering around the house's ransacked interior. The building appears to have been damaged, probably by shelling. He complains that "the Ministry of Defence" (i.e. the Army) have been there before him and have stripped the house.
3/ At least three of his colleagues are visible in and around the building's garage. Describing it as "rich" (in loot, presumably), he says they are "cleaning it [out]".