Ukraine In Kursk Combines Special Ops, Drones, Air Force, Armor, Psy Ops, Partisans

Ukraine's continued success is due in part to the element of surprise, which was missing during the counteroffensive in 2023.

But perhaps more importantly, the Kursk assaults from which the Russians have yet to fully recover, are also notable for the effective use of combined arms. These include special operations, often in sync with partisans in the Russian rear, psy ops, drones, fighter jets, mechanized units and artillery.  The combined impact has kept the Russians confused, largely on the defensive and, when they have committed substantial forces - as they did with the North Koreans - those units have usually suffered massive casualties while failing to gain much ground. It has been a textbook operation in that regard. JL 

Valentyna Romanenko reports in Ukraine Pravda:

During operations in Kursk Oblast, for the first time, Ukraine used tactical groups, special operations forces, units of psychological operations, the Resistance Movement, and UAV units in coordination with mechanized units, which created conditions for the rapid advance of the main forces. Destruction of Russian air defence systems and ammunition depots left the enemy no chance to react quickly. The attacks on strategic targets made it impossible to quickly deploy reinforcements. This allowed the SOF to lead the main Ukrainian troops along prepared routes. The offensive also inflicted the greatest losses on the North Korean troops since the end of the the Korean War more than 70 years ago."

The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine note that during the operation in Russiaʼs Kursk Oblast, for the first time, they used tactical groups, units of psychological operations, the Resistance Movement, and UAV units in coordination with friendly defence forces units, which created conditions for the rapid advance of the main forces.

Source: Press service of the Special Operations Forces

Details: The SOF described how they created the preparations for the defence forces' entry into Kursk Oblast in May and July.

Quote from SOF: "SOF soldiers had been advancing through the territory of Russia in advance in preparation for the Kursk operation long before the world found out about the main offensive of the Ukrainian defence forces. Through thorough reconnaissance and strikes on structures in the enemy rear, they destroyed key elements of Russian defence in the border region.

Thanks to planning, the destruction of Russian air defence systems and ammunition depots left the enemy no chance to react quickly. The attacks on strategic targets and enemy logistics made it impossible to quickly deploy reinforcements.

This allowed the SOF to bring the main parts of Ukrainian troops along prepared routes. The August offensive in Kursk Oblast began with minimal resistance from the Russian army."inflicted perhaps the greatest losses on the North Korean troops since the end of the active phase of the Korean War more than 70 years ago."

Watch this video released by SOF on 6 February for a step-by-step of the Ukrainian Special Forces' actions in Kursk Oblast.

 

Background:

• A SOF unit captured documents and weapons of the North Korean troops fighting for Russia during the Kursk operation.
• A North Korean special forces officer, who was the first to be captured by the SOF, had testified to the Security Service of Ukraine and provided valuable intelligence.
• On 31 January, the SOF confirmed that their units deployed in Kursk Oblast had not seen North Korean troops for about three weeks.