Russia’s response to the incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Kursk Oblast has been somewhat lackluster for the past three weeks. On one hand, Russia continues to maintain its offensive in the Donbass region, while on the other hand, troops have been shifted from less critical fronts such as Kharkiv and Crimea to Kursk in order to counter the Ukrainian advances. Additionally, as a form of retaliation, on August 26th, Russia launched its most intense airstrikes of the year against Ukraine, primarily targeting the country’s energy infrastructure.
On August 26th, Ukrainian radar networks identified and tracked a total of 236 Russian aerial targets, including 127 missiles and 109 suicide drones. According to reports from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian air defense system has been relatively effective in intercepting subsonic cruise missiles and suicide drones launched by Russian forces, but has shown poorer results in intercepting various ballistic missiles and supersonic cruise missiles.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24th, President Zelensky announced that domestically developed unmanned drone missiles had been successfully deployed in the battlefield, inflicting damage on Russian forces. Interestingly, this new type of weapon has been named after a traditional Ukrainian round bread called “Palyanytsya,” and it is nicknamed the “Round Bread” drone missile.
The “Round Bread” is a long-range drone powered by a turbojet engine, designed to take off from the ground using skids rather than landing gear. Due to its jet engine, it is capable of flying much faster than propeller drones, reportedly reaching speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. It is speculated that its range can reach 600 to 700 kilometers, covering a distance that could extend to Moscow.
In the Middle East, a significant clash occurred between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon on the morning of August 25th. Israel conducted preemptive strikes against Hezbollah targets, and in retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones towards northern Israel.
Hezbollah stated that this was only the first phase of retaliation following the assassination of its senior commander on July 30th by Israel. Both sides have expressed a desire to avoid further escalation of conflict, while also warning of the possibility of more attacks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Katz emphasized that Israel is not seeking a full-scale war. Both Hezbollah and Israel have conveyed their mutual desire to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, focusing on the fact that both sides have communicated their messages.
The situation in both regions remains tense as the conflict continues to unfold.