Battle of Kursk II - 07 August 2024 - Day 2
On August 7, Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of general staff and highest-ranking general, notified Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian advance had been halted at the border. The Investigative Committee had initiated criminal proceedings on charges of terrorism, murder, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, and attempted murder of law enforcement officers.
The Russian border defences were possibly prepared to slow down and stop smaller-scale raids. Looking at the Russian telegram channels it seems that the Russian high command may have also ignored the Ukrainian buildup. Russia had long enjoyed thin border defense so it could concentrate forces in occupied territories. Enabled by US restrictions on Ukraine. If Russia had to defend its entire border it could be half the attacking force it has now.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Acting Governor of Kursk Region Alexey Smirnov. During the meeting, the head of state called the Kursk region a promising and interesting region. Putin expressed confidence that Smirnov would find it interesting to work there. "Kursk Region is a very promising region, very interesting," said the Russian leader. Putin is confident that Smirnov will do everything to ensure that Kursk Region solves the development tasks that it faces. “Today’s situation requires a certain amount of courage and composure in solving complex, extraordinary problems,” the president emphasized.
Intelschizo noted : "The Sudzha axis sits one of the primary rail lines that goes to Belgorod which is the main logistics depot for Task Group North in Kharkiv. Having direct fire control over this rail line shutting it down.... " Alex Kokcharov observed "The Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhord main gas pipeline still operates despite the war, supplying about 40 million cubic meters of Russian gas per day to the EU nations of Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. The supply levels remain unchanged as of yet."
John Helin noted "Entering a village or driving through it does not consolidation make if it can't be held once the Russian reaction forces get to the AO.... According to unreliable reports Ukraine has concentrated elements from 2-4 brigades in the area. These would be gravely needed in the east.... The short term benefits in terms of media optics and shifting attention away from the east are obvious, but if Ukraine attempts to hold onto ground, those short-term benefits might soon turn into long-term consequences. "
NSC John Kirby about the events in the Kursk region: "I'll let the Ukrainians speak to their operations, one way or the other, that's most appropriate. So I would refer you to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to speak to what they're doing. We're going to stay focused on making sure they have what they need to defend themselves. ... I would add that we would be reaching out to our Ukrainian counterparts to get a little bit better understanding."
White House isn’t complaining about Ukraine using western-supplied weapons for the incursion (Strykers, Bradley’s, etc). Implies they’re at least willing to let David fight Goliath without a handicap for once. Perhaps part of the Ukrainian attack is to force the US' hand when it comes to Russian "red lines." If ground forces invading Russia isn't a real red line, it doesn't seem like ATACMS striking bases would be.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, confirmed 07 August 2024 that the US had not received any prior information about possible operations in the Russian territory, adding that "it’s not unusual for the Ukrainians not to notify us of their exact tactics before they execute them".
"It’s the war that they [the Ukrainians – ed.] are conducting. We are providing them with the equipment; we provide them with advice. But when it comes to the day-by-day tactic that they carry out, the day-by-day strikes that they take, sometimes we’re in communication about it, sometimes we’re not. It’s appropriate for them to make those decisions," Miller stated.
Miller reluctantly responded to a question whether the actions of alleged Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast violate the US ban on strikes on the territory of Russia with American weapons, stressing that Washington’s policy in this regard had not changed. "I’d say it this way. Nothing about our policy has changed, and with the actions that they [the Ukrainians – ed.] are taking today they are not violating our policy," Miller said at a briefing.
Clearly it was not initially possible for Russia to contain the offensive - especially due to the abundance of Ukrainian air defense, which threatens Russian UAVs and aircraft. Ukraine released footage of an FPV drone striking (and downing) a Russian Mi-28 "Havoc" anti-armor attack helicopter over Kursk Oblast in Russia. If confirmed, this is a significant advance in drone warfare. Drones are going to be an important element in future wars.
Putin convened a meeting regarding the "situation" in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation . Earlier, he announced a "breakthrough" and accused Ukraine of "provocation". The United States said that "decisions about how Ukraine conducts its military operations are decisions made by Ukraine." Putin met with Belousov, Shoigu, FSB Director Bortnikov, and Gerasimov, to discuss the situation in the Kursk region. Gerasimov promised all was under control. Putin and the rest looked skeptical. Putin was once more sitting far away from his subordinates. Zakharova, spokesperson for Russian foreign affairs ministry, on the situation in Kursk: "Moscow calls on the international community not to stand aside and strongly condemn the criminal actions of the Kyiv regime."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian army for its ability to "surprise" and achieve results, he said at an event dedicated to the presentation of a new digital application "Army+" to reduce paper documentation for the military. "Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And it knows how to achieve results," Zelenskyy noted, without making any direct reference to the situation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
The head of the defense committee of the Bundestag, Markus Faber ("Free Democratic Party", FDP), does not consider the probable use of German weapons by the Ukrainian army in combat operations in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation to be a problem. In particular, we are talking about the Leopard 2 main battle tank. Faber emphasized that after Ukraine receives weapons from Germany, they become "Ukrainian weapons", and this applies to "all weapons", including Leopard 2 battle tanks. "In connection with Russia's attack on Ukraine, the territory of both states is a war zone. The use of weapons is subject to the provisions of international law," added the head of the Bundestag defense committee. "Anyone who starts a war of aggression against a neighboring country turns their territory into a war zone. Ukraine's attack on the Kursk region is completely legal and justified from a military point of view. It forces Russia to withdraw its troops from the East," the politician's post read.
Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, commander of the Akhmat special forces, Major General Apti Alaudinov spoke about the situation in the Kursk region. He did this on his Telegram channel. “There is no irreversible process,” Alaudinov said. According to him, the enemy entered the region’s populated areas because there were no forces or resources in these areas, and the line of defense was only on the border. Alaudinov emphasized that the situation is not critical and is difficult primarily because the enemy “is on our territory.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on the night of August 7, the army, together with border troops, fought with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region . According to the department, the enemy's losses in one day amounted to 260 people and 50 armored vehicles, including the destruction of two self-propelled launchers of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system, a UR-77 mine clearing unit, and an electronic warfare station.
War correspondent Yevgeny Lisitsyn shared the following version on his Telegram channel: one of the targets of the attack was the Sudzha gas metering station, which ensures the operation of the pipeline - the route for gas supplies through Ukraine to European countries. "And as a result of military action, it could be "accidentally" damaged, which would lead to a stop in gas pumping. It is also important to note the distance from Sudzha to the Kurchatov NPP, only 90 km. And the Ukrainian Armed Forces could use it for nuclear blackmail , as was the case with the Zaporizhzhya NPP," Lisitsyn did not rule out.
Hero of Russia, Major General of Aviation Sergey Lipovoy, in a conversation with NEWS.ru, also admitted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will try to interfere with the work of the Kursk NPP. “Despite the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are doomed, they are capable of trying to cause some damage not only to the Kursk NPP. There is a large gas pumping station in Sudzha, which transmits gas to Europe through Ukraine. It is quite possible that it could be the target of sabotage by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Probably, this is precisely why they went there — to cut off Europe from Russian gas,” Lipovoy explained. "The Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters have a one-way ticket, and their chances of returning alive are very slim. This operation can be called "Va-Bank", since Kyiv reserves are participating in it, the elite, which was saved only for the last resort, but was used in a senseless adventure. A day, two at most, will finally clarify everything," concluded the Hero of Russia.
In turn, political scientist Alexey Chesnakov noted in his Telegram channel that Zelensky is trying to save his falling rating. According to him, fewer and fewer Ukrainians support the president, and by attacking Russian territory, Kiev is trying to sell the dissatisfied “the appearance of positivity.” "The Ukrainian authorities vitally need at least some positive information in the agenda to create the necessary information background. It is clear that the fleeing Ukrainian soldiers in Chasov Yar, Toretsk or other areas are not suitable for these purposes," Chesnakov writes.
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