Summary of the day: Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken an active role in managing the situation along the Ukrainian-Russian border, portraying himself as a capable leader while attributing difficulties to other military and government officials. His recent chastisement of senior officials, publicly broadcasted, serves as a warning to others to avoid public discourse on the Ukrainian incursion. Despite attempts to coordinate military efforts in Kursk Oblast through overlapping responsibilities assigned to the Ministry of Defense, FSB, and Rosgvardia, there are indications of difficulties in establishing effective joint command structures. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are advancing in Kursk Oblast, contradicting Russian claims of stabilizing the front. Putin’s comments have also inadvertently challenged the Kremlin’s narrative that Ukraine is unwilling to negotiate peace. In a broader context, Russian forces have made gains in other areas, and the Russian government continues to emphasize strengthening international military relationships, as evidenced by discussions at the Army-2024 forum in Moscow.
Picture of the day:
Captured Russian Soldiers in Kursk Oblast. Screenshot from video released by “I Want To Live” initiative.
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Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War
At the Army-2024 International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Defense highlighted Russia’s international defense relationships, aiming to bolster military-technical cooperation with allied states. Putin opened the forum, noting the participation of over 120 foreign companies and stating that many are keen to collaborate with Russia’s defense industry. The event, held from August 12 to 14, features over 1,000 organizations and showcases more than 20,000 military and dual-use products. Delegations from 83 countries attended, with formal displays from Belarus, Iran, China, and India. Additionally, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport is set to sign several international agreements, underscoring an effort to enhance defense ties amid challenges in maintaining weapon exports since the invasion began.
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced that its Air Force and Air Defense Forces personnel have departed for Russia to engage in a joint military exercise with Russian forces at the Ashuluk Training Ground in Astrakhan Oblast.
Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine
Russia has redeployed parts of its military units from various sectors, including the southern front, to reinforce defenses in Kursk Oblast, responding to Ukraine’s unexpected incursion. This reallocation correlates with reduced Russian military assaults in the Tavria sector and increased activities near the Dnipro River’s left bank, yet the situation near Pokrovsk remains critically challenging. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that this strategic shift is likely to prompt the Kremlin to reevaluate its deployment of personnel and materiel, noting Russia’s prior underestimation of the border’s vulnerability and the inadequacy of its defenses despite existing fortifications. As a result, Russia’s operational flexibility is expected to diminish, compelling further reallocation of resources to defend border areas and impacting future military strategies in Ukraine. President Zelensky has emphasized that Ukraine’s military actions are defensive, aimed at securing borders and protecting regions like Sumy Oblast from Russian aggression.
Kursk Front – Initiative Ukraine
Despite claims from Russian milbloggers that the frontline in Kursk Oblast was stabilizing, Ukrainian forces continue to make advancements in the region. Recent reports and geolocated footage indicate new incursions by Ukrainian forces in several areas within Kursk Oblast, including Slobodka-Ivanovka, Tetkino, Gordeevka, Uspenka, and Viktorovka. These movements suggest a strategic push north and south of Korenevo, targeting bypass routes around the settlement. Additional footage shows Ukrainian operations extending into Sudzha, Zaoleshenka, and Giri, with temporary advancements into central Giri. Moreover, the Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged a repelled attack near Borki, indicating ongoing active conflict. This contrasts with the earlier milblogger reports, highlighting a dynamic and fluid battlefield situation in the region.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described Ukraine’s ongoing military operation in Russia’s Kursk Oblast as a significant setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling it a “catastrophe” for his war efforts. In his evening address, Zelensky noted that Ukrainian forces now control approximately 1,000 square kilometers in Kursk Oblast, an area previously used by Moscow to launch attacks into Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. He emphasized the operation as crucial for Ukraine’s security, aimed at clearing the border of Russian military presence. Zelensky also highlighted the historical parallel of the Kursk submarine disaster 24 years ago, suggesting a symbolic end to Putin’s era with the current challenges in Kursk. Amidst this backdrop, Ukrainian advances have prompted Russian authorities to expand civilian evacuations from border districts.
Senior Ukrainian officials have updated on their incursion into Kursk Oblast, with Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi stating that Ukrainian forces control approximately 1,000 square kilometers of the area. However, independent assessments suggest that the actual controlled area might be closer to 800 square kilometers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed ongoing operations and mentioned that plans are underway to address humanitarian issues in the affected areas. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has warned that Russian special services might stage war crimes in Kursk Oblast to falsely implicate Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Battalion released a video depicting the removal of a Russian flag in Darino, Kursk Oblast, as part of Ukraine’s week-long offensive. This marks the first time Ukrainian military forces have officially published footage from Russian territory since launching a surprise incursion on August 6. The video shows Ukrainian soldiers at an administrative building in Darino, a village just 4 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
A screenshot from a video posted by the 225th battalion of Ukraine’s Armed Forces showing soldiers removing a Russian flag from a building in Darino, Kursk Oblast, Russia. (225th Battalion)
Ukrainian troops are reportedly fortifying their positions in Russia’s Kursk region, indicating a move beyond simple border raids. Russian military reporter Aleksandr Kharchenko and other sources suggest that Ukrainian forces are digging trenches and deploying excavators, potentially signaling a transition to trench warfare. This development could complicate Russian efforts to repel the incursion, with some analysts speculating it may lead to a partial, long-term Ukrainian occupation of the area. These actions are seen as strategic, possibly aiming to divert Russian forces from other fronts or to use the Kursk region as leverage in future negotiations. However, without official confirmation, the motives and potential impact of these entrenchments remain speculative.
The Ukrainian initiative “I Want to Live” released a video showing several dozen captured Russian soldiers, including three from Grozny and members of the Akhmat special forces, captured in the Kursk region. The video, depicting prisoners with duct-taped eyes, challenges claims by Akhmat that their fighters do not surrender, suggesting they were caught off guard in dynamic combat situations. Reports indicate that the Akhmat fighters, stationed near the Kursk border, did not engage directly and scattered under initial Ukrainian attacks, allowing Ukrainian advances. This incident coincides with broader Ukrainian military operations in the region, marking significant territorial control.
Regional Russian officials, including Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov and Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov, have provided unusually candid assessments of the Ukrainian incursion. Gladkov described the Ukrainian activities along the Belgorod border as “alarming.” Simultaneously, Smirnov reported that Ukrainian forces had seized 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, advancing approximately 12 kilometers deep along a 40-kilometer front. Independent observations and geolocated footage corroborate that Ukrainian forces are active in up to 40 settlements in Kursk Oblast, engaging in significant combat up to 24 kilometers from the international border.
President Vladimir Putin has tasked the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), Federal Security Service (FSB), and Rosgvardia with distinct yet overlapping roles in managing the Ukrainian-Russian border conflict, particularly in Kursk Oblast. The MoD’s main objective is to expel Ukrainian forces from Russian territory and ensure border security, while the FSB and Rosgvardia are responsible for countering Ukrainian sabotage and managing a counterterrorism regime. Challenges in establishing effective command and control (C2) structures are evident, as conflicting reports and the lack of a clear frontline complicate coordination. Acting Governor of Kursk Oblast, Alexei Smirnov, mentioned coordination issues among security forces, exacerbated by mobile Ukrainian groups penetrating deeper into the region. The situation highlights ongoing difficulties in managing and directing military operations effectively across various Russian security branches.
Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces have made slight advancements in Vovchansk, located northeast of Kharkiv City, with continued fighting reported. Geolocated footage from August 9 confirmed marginal progress in central Vovchansk, with ongoing clashes extending east towards Tykhe. Despite a lack of offensive operations by Ukrainian forces north of Kharkiv City and west of Vovchansk, Ukrainian drones have actively targeted Russian positions in these areas. Russian military efforts are focused on improving logistics and communications to bolster command and control capabilities.
Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia
Russian forces have reportedly made advances along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line with ongoing fighting reported. A Russian milblogger noted that Russian troops pushed Ukrainian forces south of Berestove and Novoselivske and are conducting multi-directional attacks towards the N-26 Kupyansk-Svatove highway. Additionally, Russian assaults occurred southeast of Kupyansk near Pishchane and Stelmakhivka, as well as northwest and west of Kreminna near Makiivka, Nevske, and Torske. The milblogger highlighted that the fighting remains largely positional.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia
Siversk
Ukrainian forces have recently recaptured positions southeast of Siversk, despite ongoing Russian attacks in the area. Geolocated footage from August 10 shows Ukrainian advances south of Ivano-Darivka. Concurrently, Russian forces launched offensives northeast, east, and southeast of Siversk, including near Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamyanske, Spirne, Ivano-Darivka, and Vyimka.
Chasiv Yar
Russian forces made advancements north of Chasiv Yar, with ongoing combat reported in the area. Recent geolocated footage from August 5 shows progress southeast of Hryhorivka. Continued skirmishes occurred near and around Chasiv Yar, including Kalynivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, and Klishchiivka.
Toretsk
Russian forces have made marginal advances southeast of Toretsk, while Ukrainian forces successfully recaptured positions south of the city, amidst ongoing hostilities. Geolocated footage from August 10 and 11 shows Russian gains in southwestern Zalizne and Ukrainian recoveries in Niu York, both near Toretsk. Russian claims of further advances in Druzhba, Pivnichne, and near Yurivka have not been visually confirmed. Continued fighting in the area, including Toretsk, Druzhba, Zalizne, Niu York, Nelipivka, and Sukha Balka, was reported.
Pokrovsk
Russian forces have advanced east and southeast of Pokrovsk, with recent movements noted in Ivanivka and Hrodivka. Geolocated footage confirms these advances, and additional reports from Russian sources claim gains in northern Karlivka and seizure of Lysychne. Despite the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast starting August 6, a Ukrainian brigade spokesperson noted that there has been no reduction in Russian military activity near Pokrovsk. Russian tactics involve small group maneuvers through forest areas, complicating Ukrainian efforts to track movements. Continuous Russian offensive operations were reported near Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Kalynove, Yelyzavetivka, Hrodivka, Skuchne, Novohrodivka, Zhelanne, Orlivka, Mykolaivka, and Karlivka.
Southwest of Donetsk City
Russian forces attacked areas west and southwest of Donetsk City, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, and Vodyane. Despite these assaults, there were no confirmed changes to the frontline positions.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia
Zaporizhia-Donetsk Border Area
Russian forces conducted ground attacks near Vuhledar in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.
Zaporizhia Line
Fighting persisted in western Zaporizhia Oblast, particularly around Robotyne and nearby areas including Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Verbove, and Hulyaipole with no confirmed shifts in frontline positions.
Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia
Russian sources reported that Ukrainian forces targeted the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) with a drone strike on August 11, following a fire at the facility. Russian officials accused Ukraine of jeopardizing global energy security and urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to condemn the strike. The IAEA confirmed witnessing the fire but stated it posed no risk, while calling for an end to attacks on the ZNPP. Ukrainian officials countered by alleging that Russian forces intentionally set fire to rubber tires at one of the plant’s cooling towers to malign Ukraine internationally and bolster Russia’s image as the plant’s safe operator.
Russian forces conducted ground attacks in eastern Kherson Oblast near Krynky with no changes reported in frontline positions.
Ukraine News
Russian forces launched limited missile strikes against Ukraine, targeting Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts with one Iskander-M ballistic missile each overnight. The missile in Mykolaiv landed in open fields and included cluster munitions, according to local military authorities. Russian sources also reported a strike on an ammunition depot near Odesa City. Sumy Oblast officials reported a significant increase in Russian attacks, with 40-50 guided glide bombs per day targeting border settlements and infrastructure facilities in the region.
Ukraine’s Allies
Another Georgian volunteer fighter, 34-year-old Vaso Kardava, was killed in Ukraine. Kardava reportedly died from a Russian artillery strike in the Soledar-Siversk area of Donetsk Oblast. Originally from Abkhazia, a region occupied by Russia since the 1990s, Kardava had been fighting in Ukraine since the invasion began in February 2022. Conflicting reports indicate that between 55 and 60 Georgian fighters have been killed in Ukraine so far.
During a visit to Kyiv, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) expressed support for Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Senator Graham praised the operation, calling it “bold, brilliant, beautiful,” and urged Washington to remove restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-supplied weapons for strikes on Russian soil. The senators also discussed further military aid, including air defense systems and missiles, during their meeting with Zelensky.
Nearly $2.3 billion in dollars and euros has been sent to Russia since the start of the full-scale war, despite U.S. and EU sanctions, Reuters reported on August 12. These sanctions, implemented in March 2022, banned exporting these currencies to Russia, leading to a rise in the use of Chinese yuan. However, data shows that dollars and euros are still widely used in Russia, with much of the cash arriving via third-party countries like the UAE and Turkey. Cash payments, often for gold, arms, or banks, were used to bypass sanctions on wire transfers. The U.S. has expanded its sanctions to penalize financial institutions still conducting business with Russia, contributing to challenges in trade and the withdrawal of some Chinese banks from Russian markets.
Life in Russian-Occupied Ukraine
A fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), allegedly caused by Russian shelling, has been extinguished. The previous day, Russian forces reportedly fired on the plant’s cooling towers, sparking the blaze. Authorities confirmed that radiation levels in the area remain normal. President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold Russia accountable, stating that the situation remains dangerous as long as Russia controls the plant. The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022, raising ongoing nuclear safety concerns. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on August 12 that it has been unable to determine the cause of the fire at the ZNPP.
Russia News
Ukrainian forces reportedly carried out a drone strike on a Russian airbase in Moscow Oblast overnight. Russian air defenses were seen intercepting drones over Shchyolkovo, near Chkalovsky Military Air Base, in footage circulated by the Russian opposition outlet Astra. Pro-war Russian Telegram channels claimed the strike was successfully repelled, but there has been no official Russian comment on the incident.
As Ukraine’s military incursion into Kursk Oblast intensifies, regional authorities announced plans to evacuate civilians from the Belovsky district, located near the border with Ukraine. Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, stated that transportation, including buses, is being arranged to facilitate the evacuation.
Amid Ukrainian military advances into Kursk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast Governor Viacheslav Gladkov announced the evacuation of residents from the bordering Krasnoyaruzhsky District due to increased military activity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to destabilize Russia and pledged a strong response to the ongoing Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast. During a televised meeting, Putin stated the primary goal is for the Russian defense ministry to expel Ukrainian forces from the area. He reported an uptick in Russian enlistment in response to the conflict.
Russian Mobilization and Defense Industrial Base
At the Army-2024 Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the defense industry to collaborate with small businesses and focus on developing communications, protection, electronic warfare systems, drones, and artificial intelligence. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov emphasized the need for high-precision weapons, innovative tactics involving unmanned systems and robotics, an AI-enhanced management system, and better training for command staff to enhance military operations.
At the Army-2024 International Military-Technical Forum, Russia showcased new air defense and electronic warfare systems. Rostec introduced an updated Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system designed specifically to destroy drones with “mini missiles,” omitting the cannon armament found in previous versions. Additionally, Rostec’s subsidiary Roselectronics unveiled the “Surikat-O/P,” a portable drone detection and EW system capable of identifying drones up to a kilometer away and suppressing targets from at least 300 meters.
Russia’s Allies
Belarus is intensifying its defense ties with Russia, as evidenced by a meeting on August 12 where Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin discussed joint military technical cooperation with key Russian defense officials in Moscow Oblast during the “Army 2024” military technical forum. Khrenin highlighted the complex global situation and external pressures as catalysts for strengthening Belarus’s alliances.
Controlling The Narrative and Russian Propaganda
Russian President Vladimir Putin has actively managed the Ukrainian border crisis, directing military and government strategies in the regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk. He emphasizes maintaining tight control over the narrative, instructing officials to strictly adhere to their designated roles and responsibilities. This policy was exemplified during a recent meeting where he notably reprimanded Kursk’s Acting Governor for exceeding his authority, highlighting the expectation that officials avoid public discussions on sensitive military and security operations. The Kremlin reinforced this directive by releasing meeting footage that underscored the responsibilities of regional leaders under Putin’s oversight, while carefully omitting any military discussions. Additionally, a report from the Russian opposition outlet Verstka revealed advice to Russian lawmakers to restrict their comments on Kursk Oblast to official statements, aiming to control the narrative and prevent domestic unrest that could destabilize the Kremlin.
President Vladimir Putin has critiqued Ukrainian military operations in Kursk Oblast, accusing Ukraine of targeting civilians and threatening nuclear facilities, claims which contrast starkly with documented Russian actions in Ukraine. Despite his accusations, Putin suggested that Ukraine’s actions in Kursk might be aimed at strengthening its negotiating stance or to counter Russian advances in Eastern Ukraine, inadvertently acknowledging Ukraine’s interest in negotiations. This stance challenges the Kremlin’s narrative that Ukraine is not open to dialogue. Putin did not prioritize any specific assessment over others regarding Ukrainian motives in Kursk.
Source Material
Institute for the Study of War – understandingwar.org
The Kyiv Independent – kyivindependent.com
Kyiv Post – kyivpost.com