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Russian media’s response to the attacks on the border region of Kursk seemed somewhat sluggish until August 11, only after the invasion had been ongoing for six days. Russian television channels expressed shock exclaiming, “How could this happen?”
The current situation seems to have surpassed Moscow’s control over the Russian information space. Moscow authorities have begun to acknowledge that after Zelensky’s statement about Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian territory across the border, Ukrainian forces continued to launch drone and missile attacks on various locations in the Russian border areas.
On August 11, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had destroyed 14 drones and 4 Tochka-U tactical missiles over the Kursk border region, intercepting over a dozen drones in the eastern areas of Voronezh and Bryansk. Additionally, Russian officials reported that drones were also shot down over Bryansk and Oryol regions.
The acting governor of Kursk Oblast, Alexei Smirov, posted on Telegram that on the night of the 10th, a downed Ukrainian missile hit a multistory building in Kursk, injuring 13 people. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated that 69 people were injured in shelling in the Kursk region and are currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
Zelensky’s official admission on the 10th marked the most significant invasion operation by Ukrainian forces into Russian territory since the outbreak of full-scale war two and a half years ago. However, the exact objective of Kyiv’s actions remains unclear, and Ukrainian officials remain tight-lipped about it.
On the 6th, Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border attack from the northeastern Sumy region towards Kursk, prompting Russia to swiftly deploy reinforcements to the border and begin evacuating local residents. The Emergency Situations Ministry in Moscow stated on the 10th that over 76,000 people have been evacuated so far.
Smirov declared a state of emergency in the Kursk region as early as the 7th. It wasn’t until the 10th that Moscow announced additional security measures in Kursk, Bryansk, and Oryol as part of an “anti-terror” operation.
Ukrainian forces continue to advance towards Kursk, with reports suggesting they have penetrated about 13 miles into the region. The War Studies Institute in the US evaluated on the 10th that after Moscow deployed new troops to the Kursk region, the pace of Ukrainian forces’ advance in the area had begun to slow down.
On the 11th, the governor of Voronezh Oblast, Alexander Gusev, stated that the air defense system “intercepted over 15 drones” overnight. He mentioned that several buildings and an undisclosed number of vehicles were damaged, leading to power outages for approximately 100 households. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Bryansk Oblast, reported that at least 3 drones hit buildings in the border town of Shebekino, injuring one civilian, and another apartment building was destroyed by a drone. He added that a standalone building in the nearby Niva-Tavorzhnka village was also damaged by a drone. In the western part of the region, the Mar’inovka village witnessed the destruction of 3 cars and an apartment building.
Simultaneously, Russia launched ballistic missiles and “dozens” of attack drones towards the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv Military Administration, posted on Telegram that the outskirts of Kyiv were targeted by missile and drone attacks, all of which were successfully intercepted.
In a late-night video address on Saturday (11th), Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces had entered Russian territory with the aim of “restoring justice” and exerting pressure on Moscow. He claimed to have discussed these actions with the top Ukrainian commander, Alexander Syrsky, and pledged to respond in kind to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He stated, “Today, I received several reports from Commander Syrsky, including details about the front lines and our actions pushing the war to the aggressors’ territories.” “Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressors.”
In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense characterized Ukraine’s ground invasion as barbaric and claimed that the actions of Ukrainian forces held no military significance.
However, the reality is that Ukrainian forces currently only occupy tens of square kilometers of Russian territory without making any sovereignty claims over these areas. On the other hand, Russia has been engaged in a two-and-a-half-year war on Ukrainian soil, controlling over a hundred thousand square kilometers of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.
Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, stated on the 7th that the Ukrainian attack on Kursk had ceased. However, the situation continues to develop, with Russian forces not pushing back Ukrainian troops to the border. Russian military bloggers suggest that the situation has stabilized after the reinforcement, but Ukraine is swiftly amassing troops.
On the 11th, Zelensky noted that Russia had launched nearly 2000 cross-border attacks from the Kursk region into the Sumy region of Ukraine this summer, involving artillery, mortars, drones, and missile strikes. Ukraine should respond to each of these attacks.
Analysis from the War Studies Institute indicates that Russia’s reaction to Ukraine’s invasion of the Kursk border region is causing confusion among its forces and creating opportunities for Ukrainian troops. Moscow is relying on locally conscripted soldiers from Kursk, as well as redeployed soldiers from less intense frontlines in Ukraine and troops from the northern regions of Russia to defend Kursk. This could exacerbate the confusion in Russia’s response to the Kursk situation.
The Moscow Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated counter-terrorism operations at various border points in collaboration with other organizations, including the Russian military, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Guard, and Chechen Special Forces.
The complex command structure involving the FSB and other forces responding to the Ukrainian invasion might reduce the effectiveness of the Russian military response due to potential friction and bureaucratic obstacles among these organizations. Moscow’s strategy appears to avoid withdrawing troops from intense frontline areas like the Donbass, especially from units advancing slowly east of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Troitsk settlements in Ukraine. The Institute further states that if Moscow chooses to keep the current deployed troops in Kursk in the medium term, it could worsen command chain issues, potentially providing vulnerabilities and opportunities for the Ukrainian force.
The Pentagon explicitly stated its support for Ukraine’s operations in Kursk. Pentagon Press Secretary Singh stated in a press briefing on the 8th that Ukraine’s actions on the Kursk border align with US policy, and the US supports Ukraine’s right to launch attacks across international borders.
On the 9th, the US sent urgently needed critical weapons equipment to Ukraine to support its defense against ongoing Russian attacks. This marked the 63rd batch of weapon equipment from the Pentagon inventory provided to Ukraine since August 2021, as part of a comprehensive aid program worth $125 million authorized by the President. The aid package includes portable anti-aircraft missiles, HAMAS rocket ammunition, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, multi-role radars, and anti-tank weapons.
The Pentagon affirmed that the US will continue working with approximately 50 allied and partner countries to ensure Ukraine receives critical capabilities to counter Russian aggression.