Ukrainian Armed Forces slowly advance in Kursk region - ISW

The report also referenced footage released by Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) showing the aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on several pontoon bridges and river crossings along the Seym River in the Glushkovsky district, west of the current Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region.

The SOF suggested that during some of the strikes on the pontoon bridges, Ukrainian forces may have used HIMARS multiple rocket launchers. Meanwhile, bloggers speculated that Ukrainian forces might have employed small-diameter aerial bombs.

Geolocated footage published on August 21 shows drone operators from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District) striking Ukrainian forces in Vyshnivka and its surroundings (south of Korenevo and 14 km from the international border), confirming Ukrainian advances into and beyond the settlement.

A Russian military blogger claimed that a reinforced Ukrainian platoon unsuccessfully attacked from Vishnevka toward Komarovka (southwest of Korenevo and 12 km from the international border). However, Russian drone strikes and anti-tank guided missile fire prevented Ukrainian forces from securing positions within the settlement. Another Russian military blogger noted that Ukrainian forces attempted a platoon-sized mechanized assault toward Korenevo but did not succeed.

Analysis of geolocation maps

Geolocated footage published on August 21 indicates that Ukrainian forces are holding positions in the forested areas east of Aleksandrovka (northeast of Korenevo and 33 km from the international border).

The geolocated data also shows that units of Russia's 200th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade (14th Army Corps, Leningrad Military District) are holding positions along the 38N-564 highway east of Zhuravli (east of Korenevo and 21 km from the international border). This suggests that the Russians have either recently occupied these positions or that Ukrainian forces have yet to close the small salient along the 38N-564 road near Zhuravli.

Martynovka encirclement

Russian bloggers continued to claim that Ukrainian forces are advancing north of Sudzha in the Malaya Loknya area and are encircling Russian forces in Martynovka (northeast of Sudzha and 19 km from the international border).

According to their reports, units of Russia's 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) found themselves encircled in Martynovka. Russian military bloggers praised a soldier from Russia's 11th Air Assault Brigade for allegedly leading conscripts out of encirclement at an undisclosed location in the Kursk region, likely referring to the Martynovka pocket.

Geolocated footage published on August 21 indicates that Ukrainian forces have advanced to the southern part of Russkaya Konopelka (east of Sudzha and 12 km from the international border). It appears that the Russian 810th Brigade is sporadically deployed across the Kursk region. Various Russian sources report that its units are operating north of the Kauchuk area (30 km from the international border) and between Martynovka and Spalnoye (southeast of Sudzha and 45 km from Kauchuk).

Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation in the Kursk region

Since August 6, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been conducting an offensive operation in the Kursk region. The military aims to create a buffer zone in the Russian border area to halt enemy airstrikes on the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

Throughout the operation, Ukrainian forces have captured a significant number of Russian soldiers, bolstering their prisoner exchange pool.

The Special Operations Forces also officially confirmed that several bridges and pontoon crossings over the Seym River were destroyed using HIMARS systems.

Meanwhile, the Russian forces have redeployed some units from eastern Ukraine to the Kursk region.