ISW: Ukrainian Forces Launch New Offensive In Kursk Oblast
- 12.09.2024, 10:47
- 36,566
Russia is deploying the brigade defeated near Vuhledar previously.
Ukrainian forces have launched new attacks in response to a Russian counteroffensive west of Snagost in the Kursk region and across the Ukrainian salient in the region.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.
A Ukrainian brigade, believed to be operating in the Kursk Oblast, reported on September 11 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had begun attacking the flank of Russian forces west of Snagost after an initial Russian counterattack in the town. American analysts cite information that Ukrainian forces are operating near Kulbaki (southwest of Snagost, about five kilometers from the international border). According to OSINT researchers, this may indicate that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have recently advanced near the town.
Russian sources also claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were conducting small-scale mechanized attacks in the Glushkovo area near Medvezhye along the international border and in another unspecified area along the border. The Russian MoD and Russian milbloggers claimed that the Russian Armed Forces had repelled a number of Ukrainian attacks.
Available visual evidence confirms that the Russian forces counterattacking in the Kursk region are operating in company-sized units and may use more experienced combat units to counterattack. Geolocated footage from September 10 shows units of the Russian 51st Airborne Regiment conducting a company-sized mechanized attack north of Snagost.
BTG Reports
Russian sources indicate that Russian Marines and Airborne Battalion Tactical Groups are conducting offensive operations in the Kursk region. However, ISW only found geolocated evidence of a company-sized mechanized attack.
According to analysts, Russian forces have not used BTGs on a large scale on the battlefield since mid-2022 after the BTGs failed to achieve their offensive objectives in the early stages of the war and because of the damage they suffered during offensive operations on Kyiv, Siverodonetsk, Mariupol and Lysychansk, which were associated with significant losses.
It is specified that in the last two years, the Russian command has moved away from the practice of using BTGs as an organized unit, but their reappearance in the Kursk region – if confirmed – would be a notable change. So far, ISW has not found any evidence of Russian forces in the Kursk region using BTGs.
155th Brigade
Russian milbloggers have claimed that units of the Russian 56th Airborne Regiment and the 155th Marine Brigade (Pacific Fleet) are participating in counterattacks in the Kursk region.
Russia's 155th Marine Brigade is known for its failed offensive on Vuhledar in late 2022 – early 2023. It then fought in the area of Maryinka in the Donetsk region, and was also deployed to participate in the Russian offensive north of Kharkiv in May 2024 – mostly without significant rest. Command had to restore the 155th Marine Brigade several times.
In turn, units of the 56th Airborne Regiment participated in repelling the Ukrainian counteroffensive near Verbove in the summer of 2023. It is also noted that the Russian military can rely on relatively experienced fighters to conduct assault operations in the Kursk region. Although it is unclear how effective these operations will be. It is also difficult to say whether the Russians have enough forces to completely stop the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region, or to defend against Ukrainian counterattacks, since the Russian command most likely transferred only parts of units to the Kursk region, and not entire formations.