Positions In Russia's Kursk Oblast Still Held By Ukraine, To Kremlin's Consternation

Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions inside Russia's Kursk oblast more than a year after the Kremlin reported the area 'cleared.' 

The Ukrainians maintain troops there both to force Russia to deploy units to keep them in check, meaning they cannot be sent elsewhere, but also as a potential jumping off point for opportunistic raids and surveillance missions. The point is to keep the Russians on edge in as many sectors as possible. JL

Oleksandr Shumilin reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast, controlling several forest areas. a year ago, the Russians were "more aggressive" and sought to dislodge these positions. "But after losing a large number of personnel there, they abandoned this objective." From a military point of view, they probably did the right thing: why fight over a couple of kilometres of their own territory that essentially change nothing?" The Russians are trying to look for weak points, but without success. Their main objective is the city of Sumy."

Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold positions in Russia's Kursk Oblast in the area near the settlement of Novy Put, controlling several forest areas.

Source: General Dmytro Voloshyn, Commander of the 8th Air Assault Corps, in an interview with BBC News Ukraine

Quote: "Yes, there are still [Ukrainian military positions in Kursk Oblast – ed.]. I can even specify where exactly. The area of the village of Novy Put, for example, where we control the entire forest area around it. We also control the area around the settlement of Politotdelsky and the adjacent forest area.

Yes, these are small, separate pockets in Kursk Oblast, but they are still there."

Graphics by the BBC

Details: Voloshyn explained that a year ago, the Russians were "more aggressive" and sought to dislodge these positions. "But after losing a large number of personnel there, they abandoned this objective," he said.

Quote: "Of course, we did not advance further either, because we have our own problems that need to be addressed. From a military point of view, they probably did the right thing: why fight over a couple of kilometres of their own territory that essentially change nothing when they can attempt to expand their zone of control on our territory?

The Russians are trying to create a 'buffer zone' here, looking for weak points, but without success. Their main objective, of course, is the city of Sumy."

Background:

• Voloshyn was on the front lines of the offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast in 2024, leading the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade.
• Combat operations in Kursk Oblast began on the morning of 6 August 2024, when Ukrainian forces crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border near the town of Sudzha.