Ukrainian incursion into Kursk: Heavy fighting and drone attacks
Diversionary action in the Russian Kursk region. Moscow asserts that 300 Ukrainian soldiers crossed the border. Surrounding towns were bombed and attacked by drones. "Russia does not control the border," commented the head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) Andriy Kovalenko.
Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is an element of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
Early in the morning, Russian bloggers reported on the battles that were supposed to take place in the Kursk region. Initially, it was said that there were 100 Ukrainian saboteurs. Rockets fell on nearby towns, including the city of Sudzha, and there was also a drone attack.
The authorities of the Kursk region and the FSB claimed that the attack was repelled, though the Ministry of Defence admitted that the fighting is ongoing.
According to the Russian ministry, 300 Ukrainians, equipped with 11 tanks and 20 armoured vehicles, are taking part in the attack. They attacked Russian positions in the area of the villages of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya.
Fighting also took place in the area of the villages of Sverdlikovo and Nizhny Klin.
Russian forces responded. As a result of the attacks, they claimed to have destroyed 16 Ukrainian vehicles: six tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured personnel carriers, three Kozak armoured vehicles, and a sapper barricade vehicle.
"Reserves of the Russian group of soldiers in the Kursk direction have moved into the clash area," the department reported.
Recordings of Russian aircraft, such as the Su-25, and explosions have appeared online.
Casualties noted
According to the acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, one resident died and several people were injured, including three children, as a result of the shelling of the city of Sudzha. Near the village of Nechayevka, a minibus driver died during an attack by a Ukrainian helicopter.
Pro-Russian bloggers reported during the day that about 20 Ukrainian soldiers died and about 50 were injured as a result of the fighting.
On the night of August 6th, 26 drones were shot down over the region, and parts of the debris fell in the centre of Kursk. During the day at 5:30 PM ET, missile warnings were announced in the region more than five times, sometimes separately for the Korenivka and Sudzha districts.
Several prisoners were also reportedly captured by Ukrainians. Photos of Russian military personnel appeared online.
Who attacked?
The Ukrainian side has not officially commented on this operation. The head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation of the NSDC Andriy Kovalenko wrote on Telegram only that "Russian officers are lying that the situation in the Kursk region is under control." "Russia does not control the border," he emphasized.
Media remind us that a similar operation took place in March when Russian soldiers fighting in the Ukrainian army crossed the border of the Belgorod and Kursk regions. At that time, the Russian Volunteer Corps called on residents to evacuate.
Former employee of the Security Service of Ukraine and military expert Ivan Stupak, in an interview with Radio NV, conveyed that according to his information, Russian volunteer legions are not participating in the current operation in the Kursk region, but rather the Ukrainian army.
