New details by Zelenskyy about planning of the Kursk offensive:
- Kyiv did not warn the world about the preparation of the offensive in Kursk Oblast in Russia because it might have seemed unrealistic. 1/6
"Just a few months ago, upon hearing that we were planning such an operation in Kursk Oblast, many representatives of the international community would have said that it was unrealistic and it crossed Russia’s main red line.” 2/6
This is why nobody had been informed about our preparations. Now the real success speaks for itself: our active defensive actions on the other side of the border and Putin’s inability to protect his territory from our defensive actions of this kind are very telling. 3/6
The whole naïve illusory concept of Russia’s so-called red lines, which prevailed in some partners’ assessment of the war, crumbled somewhere near Sudzha over these few days. 4/6
When our Ukrainian defenders act like this, decisively and bravely, and when the operation is indeed well-prepared, Putin has no choice. And now the world sees that it is realistic, that it really works. 5/6
Not only in the temporarily occupied territory of our country but in the territory of Russia as well. The world sees that everything in this war depends only on courage – our courage, and the courage of our partners. 6/6
Russia still likely faces a manpower shortage in Kursk Oblast to repel the Ukrainian advancement there.
- Conscripts from Siberia are being sent to Kursk Oblast.
1/7⬇️
- Conscripts from Siberia are being prepared for deployment to Kursk Oblast. This was reported to the editorial board of Sibir.Realii by relatives of soldiers from Kemerovo and Irkutsk Oblasts. 2/7
Mothers of soldiers who are already in Kursk Oblast confirmed that new conscripts from Belgorod and Bryansk Oblasts were deployed to the region after the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive. 3/7
My take on the latest developments in Ukraine's Kursk Operation:
Both Zelenskyy and Putin have outlined their political objectives regarding Kursk.
Putin has reportedly ordered that Kursk Oblast be fully liberated from the Ukrainian Armed Forces by October 1st. 1/14 ⬇️
Putin appears to have ordered the expulsion of Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast without redeploying troops from key areas where Russia is currently focused on offensive operations, particularly in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions. 2/14
Putin’s intervention in military operations and setting political objectives for Kursk Oblast could potentially benefit Ukraine. Autocrats with a gangster mentality, like Putin, often prioritize their image over choosing a best possible option. 3/14
Interesting new developments about Ukraine's Kursk offensive:
- Ukraine began expanding flanks in southern bank of the Seim river. Ukrainian Armed Forces knocked out the last remaining bridge over the river in Karyzh, almost cutting off the Glushkovsky district. 1/10 ⬇️
- Russian troops managed to establish one pontoon crossing in Glushkovo. However, the destruction of bridges will substantially impede supplies to Russian forces in the area. 2/10
- In the last 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces expanded west of Sudzha, seizing three villages: Snagosti and Apanasovka in the Korenevsky District and Otruby in Glushkovksy district. 3/10
Due to a personnel shortage, the Russian motorized infantry units have reassigned military personnel from Aerospace Forces units to repel Ukraine's Kursk offensive.
Some of those units were stationed at nuclear strike warning facilities and heavy bomber regiments. 1/8 ⬇️
Due to a personnel shortage in the Russian Federation's ground forces, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive in the Kursk region is being countered by a temporary motorized rifle regiment of the Aerospace Forces, specially assembled from servicemen across Russia. 2/8
The motorized rifle regiment, composed of Aerospace Forces servicemen, including officers, was formed in May-June 2024 and integrated into the so-called 'North' border protection group. 3/8
Very interesting piece by WSJ about Ukraine's Kursk offensive:
- Preparations began earlier this summer as Ukraine used drones to attack infrastructure in Kursk, from the power grid to ammunition and fuel-storage depots and surveillance equipment. 1/11 ⬇️
- Members of an anti-Kremlin paramilitary group backed by Ukrainian military intelligence carried out raids across the border, probing for weak spots and conducting reconnaissance. 2/11
- Two weeks before the operation began, Ukrainian drones destroyed Russian observation systems at a border post on the road to Kursk. 3/11
Important context about the Slavyanin ferry that was significantly damaged in the recent Ukrainian attack in the Port Kavkaz:
🇺🇦Navy Speaker Pletenchuk:
"There were direct hits on this ferry, which is a rail ferry and quite powerful. And it the last one that Russia possesses" 1/8
Regarding the project, it was designed to accommodate 50 conventional ferries, meaning it can transport 50 tanks. It has now been removed from the international route."
2/8
"The situation was so critical that after the loss of the previous two ferries, the Russians were forced to remove it from the international route and put it on an "internal" one. 3/8