Fighting in the Kursk region – ISW revealed details of the destruction of a convoy of Russian equipment

It is noted that the Ukrainian military hit a convoy of Russian military equipment east of Rylsk near the town of Oktyabrskoye, Kursk region. Geolocation images released on August 9 show the aftermath of the strike and destroyed Russian trucks on highway 38K-017.

According to Russian and Ukrainian sources, the convoy included 14 Ural and KAMAZ covered trucks carrying Russian supplies intended to reinforce Russian troops in the Kursk region. ISW noted that the attack may have killed several Russian military personnel traveling in the trucks.

“Russian sources suggested that the convoy could have been carrying personnel from the 44th Army Group of the Russian Northern Army Group (Leningrad Military District) or the Pyatnashka brigade,” the Institute for the Study of War said in a report.

Russian military bloggers have discussed what kind of weapon system the Ukrainian military might have used to carry out this strike. However, ISW is not ready to comment on what specific system the Ukrainian army might have used for the attack.

Main results:

• The report notes that on August 9, Russian sources announced that Ukrainian troops were moving further east in the Kursk region. Meanwhile, analysts have not confirmed progress as far north or west as Russian sources on August 8.
• Russian military commanders seem to be pinning their hopes on units deployed on the international border, as well as forces that are easily accessible in the rear. The ISW report notes that most of these units are staffed with conscripts and irregulars to counter the “Ukraine offensive” on the Kursk region.
• The report assumes that the above units will be the first to respond, even if Russian military commanders decide to move additional, more experienced units from other parts of the theater.
• Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggest that Russia’s military command may resist operational pressure to redeploy forces from other operational directions to stop the “Ukraine aggression.” This is due to the threat that it will disrupt the offensive activity of the Russian army in the eastern part of Ukraine.
• The ISW report suggests that military commanders are likely moving more experienced and better equipped frontline units from eastern or southern Ukraine to the Kursk region. However, it will take more time for these units to reach the Kursk region.
• The Institute recalled that Ukrainian troops attacked a Russian military airfield in Lipetsk region and other Russian military facilities in Crimea and Donetsk region on August 9.
• ISW monitors confirmed the advance of Russian troops near Chasovoy Yar, Toretsk and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
• The report also notes that the Russian Ministry of Defense continues to claim that it provides adequate medical care to Russian military personnel.