Fighting in Kursk region: Map of gray zones as on August 10
Photo: hostilities continue in the Kursk region (t me gubernator_46)
The military operation in the border area of the Kursk region continues for the fifth day. There is information suggesting that Ukrainian forces have allegedly fully taken control of the city of Sudzha and have also entered the Belgorod region of Russia.
What is happening in the Kursk region and where the battles are taking place is detailed in the RBC-Ukraine report below.
Contents:
Yesterday, August 9, Russian sources claimed that Russia is allegedly redeploying reserves of the North group (Kharkiv direction) from Donetsk and Belgorod regions to Kursk.
Kremlin-affiliated media circulated videos showing columns of military equipment supposedly heading towards the city of Sudzha. Additionally, the Russian brigade Piatnashka, which had previously been involved in battles near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, reported its arrival in the Kursk region.
Furthermore, sources linked to the Wagner Group published a statement about Wagner’s readiness to deploy forces to the border area of the Kursk region "at the first call." Russian military bloggers claimed that former Wagner fighters have begun arriving in Kursk.
Maps of gray zones
This morning, Russian propagandist Telegram channels reported that Ukrainian forces had allegedly occupied the village of Plekhove in the Kursk region. The publication Radio Liberty confirms that fighting has been ongoing in that area for several days.
Some Russian propagandists complained that the settlement of Martynivka had been "given up" by Russian troops.
screenshot of the Radio Liberty map
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Russian sources, report that Ukrainian forces have advanced further east in the Kursk region. However, Russian opposition media, including Important Stories, emphasize that the front line has changed little.
Propagandists also claim that Ukrainian military forces are allegedly dispersing across occupied settlements and forests, and are preparing engineering structures.
ISW battle map
According to the Deepstate service, the area of the so-called gray zone in the border areas of the Kursk region is nearly 73 square kilometers.
screenshot of gray areas deepstatemap.live
There are also reports of attempts to storm the settlement of Korenevo, which is a district center. Russians claim that the attacks have been halted but emphasize that pressure in this direction has increased.
The main focus of the fighting remains the city of Sudzha.
Photo: map of Ukrainian advance in Kursk region by Radio Liberty (svoboda.org)
Battles in Sudzha
Russian so-called "war correspondents" differ in their statements about the battles in Sudzha. Some claim that neither Sudzha nor Korenevo is under the control of Ukrainian forces. Others assert that Sudzha is slowly being surrounded, with the rear of the Ukrainian forces already positioned to the north of the city.
Some Russian Telegram channels report that Ukrainian forces are allegedly not planning to occupy Sudzha for now but will attempt to take control of the road to Rylsk, which runs through the outskirts of the settlement.
Yesterday, a video surfaced online showing a military personnel identifying himself as a fighter from the 61st Separate Mechanized Steppes Brigade. The soldier claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had supposedly taken control of the city and the strategic Gazprom facility. However, this information has not been officially confirmed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Breakthrough in Belgorod Region
This morning, a new video purportedly showing Ukrainian fighters was circulated online. In the footage, fighters from the 252nd Battalion claim that they have entered the settlement of Poroz in the Belgorod region.
Additionally, it is noted that the distance from the village of Poroz to the border with Ukraine in Sumy region is just over three kilometers.
Background
On August 6, Russian media reported a purported breach of the border in the Kursk region. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that the breach attempt was halted, but fighting has continued for the fifth day.
The main events are unfolding near the city of Sudzha, approximately 10 kilometers from the border with the Sumy region. There is a station there that facilitates the transit of Russian gas to Europe. Both Ukraine and Russia have noted that the station continues to operate.
It should be noted that the Defense Forces have not officially commented on the situation in the Kursk region or the objectives of the operation.
Yesterday, Russia announced it is redeploying reserves to the Kursk region. For more on how this move might impact the situation on the front, see the RBC-Ukraine report.
Sources: the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report, maps from the DeepState resource, the Telegram channel Important Stories, Astra, data from Radio Liberty, and other open sources.
