- 30,000 Russian Troops Sent to Kursk
- Russia Retakes Korenevo
- Moscow Builds Defenses, Restricts Kurchatov
- Zelensky Aims to Create Buffer Zone
The Kremlin has mobilized and armed a group of local volunteers to counter the Ukrainian army’s advance into Russian territory. This newly formed unit, known as “Bars-Kursk,” will receive weapons and training before being deployed on six-month contracts to maintain security in areas that were left vulnerable during Kyiv’s recent cross-border raid.
According to Britain’s Ministry of Defence, this decision appears to be a strategic move by Russia to reinforce its southern border in the Kursk region, following nearly four weeks of intense fighting.
Since launching its incursion on August 6, Ukraine has seized nearly 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory and captured hundreds of prisoners of war. However, recent progress has slowed as Russia has reinforced the area to stabilize the front lines.
Despite these reinforcements, Russian military bloggers concede that Kyiv continues to make gains. The new volunteer militia, formed in Kursk, will work closely with the army and counter-terrorist operations, according to Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk.
The Kremlin has assured the volunteer recruits that their service will be confined to the Kursk region, likely to address concerns about being deployed to Ukraine.
Russia has established over 30 Bars units, which are elite combat reserves known for their high readiness levels.
According to a Friday intelligence update from the Ministry of Defence, the formation of the Bars-Kursk volunteer unit is likely a response to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast, which began on August 6, 2024.
The MoD suggests that the new volunteer unit will probably not be operational or ready to support Russian military efforts in Kursk for at least a month. Currently, Russia is prioritizing its military efforts in the Pokrovsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, reported that Russia had redeployed 30,000 troops to Kursk in response to the Ukrainian incursion.
In addition, Russian military bloggers have raised concerns about a new buildup of Ukrainian forces in Sumy, the Ukrainian region adjacent to Kursk. The Telegram channel Rybar, which has over one million followers, noted significant concentrations of Ukrainian personnel in Sumy Oblast, describing them as “reinforcement units” entering Russian territory.
This development follows Moscow’s recent announcement of plans to establish a new troop grouping in its frontier regions of Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk, which border Ukraine. Despite describing the situation as a “terrorist operation” rather than an invasion, the Kremlin is taking significant precautions, including digging trenches and fortifications deep within its territory and restricting access to Kurchatov, the town nearest to the Kursk nuclear power plant.
Russia has managed to reclaim the village of Korenevo, situated next to a larger town of the same name, according to maps from the authoritative Ukrainian website Deep State. However, Rybar reports that Ukrainian forces are continuing their advance around the village, potentially attempting to encircle Russian troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the incursion aims to create a buffer zone to protect Ukrainian border settlements from Russian attacks and is part of his broader strategy to end the war with Russia. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makieiev, expressed hope that the situation would encourage Western partners to overcome their fears of escalation. He urged them to demonstrate greater courage, asserting that Russia could be defeated by exploiting its vulnerabilities.
