While the Ukrainian military operation in the western Russian region of Kursk continues, Vladimir Putin’s advisor has spoken out. At the same time, a video of Ukrainian troops entering Russia is circulating. In eastern Ukraine, however, the authorities are pushing for a faster evacuation.
A good week after the start of the Ukrainian advance in the Russian Kursk region, Kiev’s airborne troops have released a video of the alleged first hours of the operation. August 6, the day the offensive began, will go down in the history of the Russian-Ukrainian war as a historic day, the combat unit said.
In a Accompanying text to the video: demining, breaching the border, destroying the enemy’s defenses, air strikes, artillery fire and the capture of prisoners of war. Russia’s border guards and military were completely surprised by the attack. The video also shows Russian soldiers surrendering and waving white flags.
The authenticity of the recordings, which were accompanied by music like in an action film, could not initially be independently verified. They also made the rounds on numerous Ukrainian and Russian news sites.
The operation is also seen as an exposure for Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 25 years. According to Ukrainian commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyi, on Thursday, Ukrainian soldiers have advanced 35 kilometers into Russian territory since August 6. They have brought 1,150 square kilometers and 82 settlements under their control, including the city of Sudzha, which will be the seat of the first Ukrainian military command on Russian soil.
According to British intelligence, Russia was not prepared for the Ukrainian attack, but is strengthening its defensive positions. After initial confusion, armed forces are now being stationed in the region in larger numbers, the Ministry of Defense in London announced.
British media also reported that tanks supplied by Great Britain are also being used in the offensive. These are Challenger 2 tanks provided by London, the broadcaster reported Sky NewsLink will open in a new tab and other media. There was also speculation in the German media about the use of tanks supplied by Germany in the region.
Dozens of prisoners of war in Kursk region
The Ukrainian military says it has captured hundreds of Russian soldiers in the Kursk region. Reporters from the AP news agency were given a tour of a detention center on Friday where they saw dozens of the prisoners. Prison officials said more than 300 Russian soldiers, four-fifths of them recruits, have been held there since Ukrainian troops crossed the border on August 6.
AP reporters saw the prisoners being led down a corridor with their hands tied behind their backs. Some were eating a thin soup with cabbage and onions.
Volunteer corps calls on Russians to surrender
At the same time, a Russian volunteer corps fighting on the side of Ukraine called on the soldiers of the Russian army to surrender. “Your political instructors, who are sitting in the warm back room, strongly recommend not to become prisoners of war, but rather to blow yourself up with your own grenade,” wrote the fighters from the Legion “Freedom of Russia” on Telegram. But it is better to live than to die for an order from your superior.
Anyone who wants to fight for a “normal future for Russia” can also switch sides and join the Legion. “We are ready to communicate with anyone who expresses a desire to take up arms against the Kremlin,” the fighters wrote.
Fighting continued not only in Kursk, but also in the Donbass. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian troops are continuing to actively attack in the Donbass. The General Staff in Kiev reported that there was particularly heavy fighting in the directions of Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Kurakhovo.
A total of 144 military clashes were registered within the last 24 hours. The Russians attacked with dozens of air strikes and artillery, but the attacks were repelled, the military report said. The Russian troops want to bring the Donbass completely under their control. Both warring parties also reported the shooting down of numerous drones after mutual attacks.
Parallel Crimean Bridge again in the sights?
The Russian army also claims that Ukraine has once again attempted to destroy the bridge to the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea, which has been annexed by Moscow. The Russian air defense system destroyed twelve ATACMS missiles as they approached the bridge, the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow announced. The ministry has not published any evidence of this. The information cannot be independently verified. However, Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it wants to destroy the bridge as soon as it has the military means to do so, because the structure was built illegally.
Previously, the Russian President’s advisor, Nikolai Patrushev, had accused NATO and the West of being involved in preparing the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk. “The operation in the Kursk region was also planned with the participation of NATO and Western intelligence services,” Patrushev told the Russian newspaper Izvestia on Friday.
The US statement that they were not involved in the attack was not true, said Patrushev. “Without their involvement and direct support, Kiev would not have dared to enter Russian territory.” Rather, the US-led military alliance NATO and the West were directly involved.
The US presidential office had stated that Ukraine had not announced its invasion of Kursk and that the US had not been involved in the operation.
Patrushev was formerly head of the FSB domestic intelligence service and until a few months ago secretary of the National Security Council. He now heads the new Maritime Council, which is responsible for the development of Russian naval activity and the navy. Patrushev is very close to Putin.
Reuters/AFP/AP/dpa/us/sebe/lk
