As the offensive on the Kursk region continues, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to lose positions and scarce equipment. While Moscow is demonstrating new drones resistant to jammers, Kyiv is urgently requesting construction and engineering vehicles from NATO.
The AFU’s tactics have not changed significantly. It is trying to conduct raids in small groups along the roads, and to carry out quick assaults on Korenevo and Malaya Loknya. When an operation fails, the Ukrainian soldiers withdraw and then try again.
However, Ukrainian troops have begun to save vehicles, preferring to deploy Kozak and Roshel Senator armoured vehicles instead of Strykers. The main action is centred around the Rylsk-Korenevo-Sudzha Road.
According to Forbes, Russian troops have for the first time used UAVs resistant to electronic warfare on the frontline. It is reported that the FPV drone Vandal hit civilian vehicles used by AFU soldiers in the Kursk region.
The advantage of such drones is presence of a fiber-optic link. It protects Russian drones from jamming, allowing them to actively burn Ukrainian vehicles. The first video shows the destruction of the T-64BV of the AFU.
Kursk causes problems for AFU
Kyiv has reportedly made an urgent request for heavy civilian construction and engineering equipment, including tractors and excavators, dozens of firefighters and armoured ambulances. According to NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Ukraine requested a total of 17 tracked and 10 wheeled heavy excavators, 30 tractor-trailers for transporting loads weighing up to 100 tonnes, 25 armoured ambulances, and 27 fire-fighting vehicles.
Media reports limited information on the fighting in the Kursk region. Fierce combat is taking place in the south-western sector, where the Ukrainian side is claiming minor gains.
According to Ukrainian media, the AFU again attempted to take Korenevo, but retreated. To the east, Ukrainian soldiers are making their way through the woodlands to bypass Martynivka, but so far have also been unsuccessful. Each day of the protracted offensive brings the moment for a possible counterattack closer, military experts argue.
Donbas front
In the Donbas (common name for Luhansk and Donetsk regions), Russian troops are advancing towards Hryhorivka. Ukrainian media also report heavy losses for the AFU in the battles for Ptyche.
The Russians have taken the entire railway line from Mykolaivka to Novohrodivka, with locals writing about the start of the assault. Russian soldiers are also reportedly advancing in the Hrodivka area.
In the Toretsk area, the AFU has lost Kirove and almost the entire village of Druzhba, according to reports. This jeopardises the defence of Toretsk, making it possible for Russian forces to take the city. The Russian army also entered the Shakhtar gardening centre north of Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian media reported.
Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov told the coordination council about the formation of the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk groups. It is assumed that the formation of new units will help Russia to completely stop the AFU offensive in the Kursk region and switch to retaliatory measures.
